Validity of CRIB II scoring system and mean platelet volume to predict mortality in preterm infants

Studying the variables that potentially influence the neonatal mortality rates amongst preterm infants within the neonatal intensive care unit NICU environment would enrich the health care quality control and rational use of resources. Clinical Risk Index for Babies scoring system (CRIB II) is a recently developed tool to predict the risk of mortality in preterm infants admitted to NICU. Mean platelet volume (MPV) of preterm infants admitted to NICU was examined in previous studies correlating with occurrence of early onset sepsis and predicting neonatal mortality. The aim of the current study is to examine the validity of CRIB II scoring system and MPV separately and combined to predict preterm infant mortality at NICU, Dubai Hospital. It is a retrospective study and data will be retrieved from medical records of all preterm infants less than 32 weeks of gestation who were admitted to NICU over a period of two years from July 2017 to July 2019. A data collection tool covering the basic elements of CRIB II score will be created and includes; sex, gestational age, weight, admission temperature and base excess extracted from the blood gas result on admission. Mean platelet volume data will be also retrieved from the first complete blood count result collected shortly after admission. CRIB II score will be calculated for all enrolled infants in the first 24 hours of life and the validity of CRIB II score separately and in combination with MPV to predict the neonatal mortality risk amongst preterm infants will be evaluated.