TempWatchPeer-Reviewed PublicationCross-Sectional Study
Prevalence of Hypothermia among Low Birth Weight Neonates in a Tertiary Care Center in India
Year
2019
Location
🇮🇳 Puducherry, India
Sample Size
418 LBW neonates
Investigators
Vasanthan Tanigasalam, B. Vishnu Bhat, B. Adhisivam, Bharathi Balachander, Harichandra Kumar
Institutions
JIPMER, Pondicherry
Published In
International Journal of Scientific and Healthcare Research
Background & Methods
A cross-sectional study at JIPMER, Pondicherry, using continuous BEMPU TempWatch monitoring to determine the prevalence and pattern of hypothermia in LBW neonates admitted to a tertiary care NICU. 418 neonates (birth weight < 2.5 kg) were enrolled. Data were analysed by gestational age category to assess vulnerability by maturity.
Key Results
| Outcome / Metric | BEMPU Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| Overall hypothermia prevalence (all LBW) | 64.6% | — |
| Hypothermia — very preterm subgroup | 69.8% | — |
| Hypothermia — term LBW subgroup | 45.7% | 0.0148 (vs very preterm) |
- 164.6% of LBW neonates in this tertiary NICU experienced hypothermia — despite being in a well-equipped facility.
- 2Very preterm infants had significantly higher hypothermia rates (69.8%) than term LBW infants (45.7%), confirming gestational age as a key risk factor (p=0.0148).
- 3Even in term LBW infants — often considered lower-risk — nearly half experienced hypothermia.
- 4Continuous monitoring via TempWatch captured episodes that would have been missed by intermittent thermometry.
Why This Matters
Even in India's premier tertiary care centers, nearly two-thirds of LBW neonates experience hypothermia. This data from JIPMER reinforces that standard NICU practices are insufficient and provides a robust epidemiological foundation for national guidelines recommending continuous temperature monitoring.
How to Cite
Tanigasalam V, Bhat BV, Adhisivam B, Balachander B, Kumar H. Prevalence of hypothermia among low birth weight neonates in a tertiary care center in India. Int J Sci Healthcare Res. 2019;4(4).
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