All issues > Volume 18(11); 1975

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1975;18(11):789-800. Published online November 30, 1975.

Perinatal Mortality Rate(I. Relationship to Birth Weight and Gestational Age)

Dong Gwan Han¹, Chang Jun Coe¹, Kyung Sook Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul, Korea

Abstract

We have been observed perinatal and neonatal mortality rates according to the birth weight and. gestational age of 11, 336 Korean single births born at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Jeon-Ju Presbyterian Hospital and Won-Ju Christian Hospital for 3 years from Jan. 1970 through Dec. 1972. 1)We have been observed 544 perinatal deaths (fetal deaths: 286 cases, neonatal deaths: 258 cases); total perinatal mortality rate was 48.0. The lowest perinatal mortality rate was observed in group weighing 3, 501 to 3,750 gm; 7. 2 and in group whose gestational age was 41 week; 15. 0. The neonatal mortality rate was 23. 3. and the lowest ones were 4. 4 in group of 3, 501 to 3,750gm birth weight and 6. 4 in group of 41 week of gestational age. 2)The mortality rates in perinatal and neonatal periods were decreased according to increasing birth weight and gestational age. Since both mortality rates increased again in high-birth-weight and post-term, whole picture showed U-shape. It had tendency to decline, according to increasing gestational age in same birth weight group and increasing birth weight in same gestational age. 3)Of all births, the incidence of low-birth-weight was 9. 2% and of the pre-term was 9. 5% The incidence of low-birth-weight with 38 weeks or more of gestational age was 37. 6% and of pre-term weighing 2, 501 or more was 39. 5%. And combined one of low-birth-weight and pre-term was 5.7%, The incidence of high-birth-weight (4, OOlgm or more) and post-term (42: week or more) was 3. 6% and 15. 3% respectively. The incidence of low-birth-weight in single-live-births was 7.9% (878 cases), among these low-birth-weights with 38 week or more of gestational age was 41.7%. The incidence of pre-term in single live-births was 8.3% (915-cases), 44.0% of them were heavier than 2,500 gm. The low-birth-weight combined with preterm was 4.6% in single live-births. The incidence of high-birth-weight and post-term was 3. 6% and 15.5% respectively and theses data were no difference between in single live-births, and of all births. 4) The viability rate in live-births weighing 1.751 to 2, 000gm was 71%,with gestational age of 33 week was78%. It suggested that the labor should postpone to 33 week or 1,751 gm for better safety according to above data. And it was considered that the criteria of low-birth weight and preterm should be 2,500 gip and 37 week respectively in Korea. 5)By reviewing literatures concerning perinatal and neonatal mortality rates related with, various birth weights and gestational ages, the mortality rates in low -birth-weight and in pre-term were different according to writers, changes of these mainly effect on differences- of total mortality rates. The neonatal mortality rate of low-birth-weight was 30 times of full- size. In pre-term the neonatal mortality rate was 20 times higher than full-term. Perinatal and neonatal deaths in high-birth-weight and post-term did not give any influence to total mortality rate.

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