WIP 16 - Predictive Utility of Arterial Partial Pressure of Oxygen for Outcomes in Newborns with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension.

Publication Number: WIP 16.7541

Chandra Prasad. Paneru, John H Stroger Junior Hospital , Cook county health, Chicago, IL, United States; Janardhan Mydam, John H Stroger, Jr. Hosp of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States; Aashika Janwadkar, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, United States; Bunmi Adelowo, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, chicago, IL, United States; Shalini Atluri, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States

Background: Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Risk factors include cesarean delivery, large for gestational age (LGA) status, post-term or late-preterm birth, and maternal race (Black or Asian). While echocardiography is central to diagnosing PPHN, blood gas measurements, alongside clinical findings, may assist in guiding diagnosis and management. Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) is a vital parameter that may reflect the severity of hypoxemia and pulmonary vascular resistance, which can be underlying etiology of PPHN.

Objective: To evaluate whether the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO₂) within the first 6 hours of PPHN diagnosis can predict outcomes, including the need for pharmacologic intervention, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or mortality.

Design/Methods: This retrospective study reviewed electronic medical records from a tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2009 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were infants born at ≥34 weeks’ gestation, diagnosed with PPHN, and had an arterial blood gas within the first 6 hours of diagnosis. Univariate analysis was performed using the chi-square test for categorical outcomes and Student’s t-test for continuous outcomes, with the Mann-Whitney U test for skewed distributions. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify predictors of PPHN outcomes.