Risk factors contributing to mortality were analysed in this study. The case fatality rate was 16%, and the main risk factors for mortality were the presence of air leakage, asphyxia, PPHN and any form of resuscitation. In neonates who were mechanically ventilated for MAS, the mortality rate was 15.6%. The mortality rate due to MAS in this study was lower than that in the study by Velaphi et al. [11], where the mortality rate due to MAS requiring mechanical ventilation was 33%. In a retrospective study performed by Adhikari et al., the reported mortality rate was 12%, and in neonates who required intensive care, the mortality rate was 36% [12]. A similar mortality rate was observed in other developing countries [1–3]. This decline in mortality in our study could be related to improved antenatal and intrapartum monitoring and early ventilator support.
Risk factors associated with an increase in mortality in this study included male sex and greater gestational age, with p values of < 0.009 and 0.008, respectively. Other risk factors included babies born to mothers of advanced maternal age (p value of 0.047), a low APGAR < 7 at 5 minutes, the presence of asphyxia and air leakage. The presence of air leaks and PPHN had significant effects on mortality, with p values of 0.002 and 0.007, respectively. Air leakage and asphyxia were found to be independent risk factors for mortality.
Among the demographic variables in this study, a greater number of male than female participants resulted in significantly greater male mortality. This is in contrast to the studies by Deepak L et al. and Velaphi et al., where mortality was reported to be greater in females, with p values of 0.046 and 0.02, respectively[3, 11]. Gender was not found to be a significant factor for mortality by Dargaville et al. in their epidemiological study [6].
Advanced gestational age and advanced maternal age were noted to be risk factors for increased mortality in the univariate analysis. Advanced gestational age as a risk factor for mortality has been described in other studies [9, 11]. In a meta-analysis by Hussain et al. of 14 randomized controlled studies, the induction of labour at or beyond 41 weeks significantly decreased neonatal morbidity from MAS (RR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.23–0.79)[17].
A majority (70%) of neonates in this study required some form of resuscitation. Any form of resuscitation was associated with a poorer outcome, with a p value < 0.05. In a study by Deepak Louise et al., a higher initial oxygen requirement increased the odds of dying [3]. This was found to be an independent risk factor. In another study performed in Taiwan, infants who required resuscitation during birth were associated with an increased risk of mortality [8]. In a study by Eva Gauchan et al., neonates who required bag-mask ventilation and chest compressions at birth were associated with increased mortality [9]. In our study, of the eight patients who required cardiac massage, six died. These neonates likely had severe asphyxia.
In our study, a low APGAR at five minutes was associated with an increased risk of mortality. This finding is in keeping with other studies in which a low APGAR at one and five minutes was associated with an increase in mortality [1–3, 6, 9, 18–20]. In our study, 25 (83%) of the 30 neonates who died had associated asphyxia.
Air leakage was significantly associated with mortality in our study. Similar findings were reported in other studies, where the reported incidence of pneumothorax was 9–24% [6, 21, 22]. The presence of pneumothorax is associated with poor outcomes [11, 23].
PPHN was significantly associated with mortality. Similar findings were observed in other studies [3, 11].
In a study by Hung Chi et al., in which 314 cases were reviewed, logistic regression revealed that asphyxia, pneumothorax and PPHN were the most important risk factors for mortality [24]. Similar findings were found in our study. Reducing these factors is key to decreasing mortality. PPHN and air leakage are significant complications of severe MAS and are associated with poor outcomes. Strategies to avoid and treat these complications are necessary to improve morbidity and mortality. In this study, the mortality rate did not significantly differ between patients with mild-moderate MAS and those with severe MAS.