Sick Neonate Score--A Simple Clinical Score for Predicting Mortality of Sick Neonates in Resource Restricted Settings.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an objective score to assess the condition of sick neonates at arrival and its use in predicting mortality.

METHODS: This descriptive study included 303 extramural neonates who were evaluated using a simple clinical score - Sick neonate score (SNS). All neonates were followed up till discharge or expiry. The score and its individual components were correlated with outcome. A receiver operating curve was plotted to determine the cutoff value for SNS in predicting mortality.

RESULTS: The common indications for neonatal transport were sepsis (30.7 %), birth asphyxia (17.5 %) and respiratory distress (15.2 %). Sixty neonates (20 %) expired and among them 76 % were hypothermic and 10 % hypoglycemic at admission. The average SNS for all neonates was 10 while it was 6 for those who expired. A cutoff value of SNS ≤ 8 predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 58.3 % and specificity of 52.7 %.

CONCLUSIONS: SNS is a useful scoring system to predict outcome of sick neonates in resource restricted settings.