Introduction:

Very low weight neonates (less than 1500 g) have a low incidence, but a high morbidity and mortality.

Objective:

Determine the main conditions associated with mortality in very low weight neonates.

Methods:

Retrospective analytical study (case-control) carried out at "Iván Portuondo" General Teaching Hospital. All neonates with very low birth weight were included, comparisons were made between living and deceased. The variables maternal age, birth route, gender, gestational age, weight, Apgar score, nutritional assessment and causes of death were studied. For the determination of the main risks, the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used. Statistical significance was considered with the value of odds ratio >1.0 and p < 0.05.

Results:

Of 156 very low birth weight infants, 22 patients died (14.1 %), with a higher risk of death in neonates weighing less than 1000 grams (odds ratio: 17.91) and gestational age less than 30 weeks (odds ratio: 3.82). Infants with pulmonary haemorrhage (odds ratio: 13.3), intraventricular haemorrhage (odds ratio: 9.67) and necrotizing enterocolitis (odds ratio: 4.03) presented a higher risk of mortality. The leading cause of death in these high-risk patients was intraventricular hemorrhage (27.3%).

Conclusions:

Prematurity and extreme low weight are the main determinants related to mortality in very low weight neonates. The presence of pulmonary and intraventricular hemorrhage significantly increases the risk of death in these infants.