Correlation of Cord Blood Bilirubin Values with Neonatal Jaundice in Health New-Borns: A Prospective Observational Study

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the predictability of pathological jaundice on cord blood bilirubin values. Methodology: It was a prospective observation study conducted in Kurji holy family hospital on 289 healthy new-borns. Babies were divided into two groups. Group A who developed Physiological Jaundice and Group B who developed pathological jaundice. Cord blood bilirubin was estimated in all new-born who were then followed up-to 5th day of life. Babies who developed jaundice requiring treatment were admitted in NICU for phototherapy. Rest where checked regularly up-to 5th day of life and value recorded on 5th day by estimation of serum bilirubin. Results: Incidence of pathological hyperbilirubinemia in our study was 11.2%. Statistically significant correlation between cord blood bilirubin and development of pathological jaundice. Gender, age, mode of delivery and birth weight has no correlation with cord bilirubin and the subsequent development of jaundice. Cord blood bilirubin <2.5mg/dl when compared with subsequent development of jaundice has high specificity (83.92%) and negative predictive value (87.35%). Cord blood value of >3.5mg/dl has high sensitivity (97.06%), specificity (99.22%), Positive predictive value (94.29%) and negative predictive value (99.61 %) in predicting future development of future pathological jaundice. Conclusion: 87.35% negative Predictive Value in the present study suggests that in Healthy Term babies (Cord Blood Bilirubin ≤2.5mg/dl) cord serum bilirubin can help to identify those new-borns who are unlikely to require further evaluation and intervention. These new-borns can be discharged with assurance to Parents. Babies with CBB level≥3mg/dl should be followed more frequently. Thus, this study concludes that cord blood total bilirubin levels reliably predict the occurrence of pathological hyperbilirubinemia.