The Relationship between Serum Lipid Profile and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Preterm Infants

Background and Objective: There are variable results regarding lipid profile status in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum lipids and RDS in preterm infants. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on preterm infants admitted to Hamadan Fatemieh and Besat Hospitals between the years 2018-2019. Each infant was evaluated regarding RDS severity, serum lipid profile, ventilator use, and length of hospital stay. SPSS 16 was utilized to analyze the data at a 95% confidence interval. Results: Out of 294 neonates, 51% were male. The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1783.51 ±551.86 grams and 32.37 ± 2.46 weeks, respectively.  Based on the severity of RDS, 9.1% were mild, 41.8% moderate and 49.1% were severe. In severe RDS, mean triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL were significantly higher and HDL lower than in mild RDS (P 0.001). Conclusion: In preterm infants with RDS, there is a significant relationship between serum lipid profile and severity of RDS, and also there is a significant correlation between serum lipid profile and birth weight and gestational age of neonates.