Antenatal and Intrapartum Risk Factors for Seizures in Term Newborns: A Population-Based Study, California 1998-2002

Objective

To assess antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for seizures occurring during the birth admission.

Study design

Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the association between maternal characteristics and birth admission seizures in a cohort of 2.3 million California children born at ≥36 weeks' gestation between 1998 and 2002 using the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development database containing birth certificates linked to infant and maternal hospital discharge abstracts.

Results

The incidence of seizures during the birth admission was 0.95/1000 live births. In an adjusted analysis, infants of women age 40 years and older who were nulliparous; had diabetes mellitus, intrapartum fever, or infection or delivered at ≥42 weeks had an increased risk of seizures. Infants of Hispanic and Asian mothers had a lower risk compared with infants of Caucasian mothers.

Conclusions

Several maternal antenatal and intrapartum factors increased the risk of seizures during the birth admission. Identifying and avoiding risks for neonatal seizures may lead to lower infant neurologic morbidity and mortality.

Abbreviations: CI, Confidence interval, ICD-9-CM, International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modifications, OR, Odds ratio, OSHPD, Office of Statewide Planning and Development, SES, Socioeconomic status