INTRODUCTION:

Metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBD) results from bone demineralization. There are factors that must be monitored in order to early diagnosis and treatment.

AIM:

This study was conducted to determine risk factors associated with the metabolic bone disease of prematurity.

METHOD:

A Cross-sectional study was conducted in October/2011 to October/2012. We included 120 preterm infants with gestational age <37 weeks, birth weight ≤ 1500 grams and postnatal age ≥ 21 days. Diagnosis: hypophosphatemia (< 3.5 mg/dL), normocalcemia (8.5-10 mg/ dL) or hypocalcemia (< 8.5 mg/dL) increase in alkaline phosphatase (> 900 IU/L). We calculated odds ratio (OR). Data were analysed by Student t-test and the chi-square test.

RESULTS:

Metabolic bone disease of prematurity was diagnosed in 58 (48%) patients, weight 1067 ± 216 grams, gestational age 28 ± 1.6 weeks, postnatal age 41 ± 15.5 days. Gender male 32 (55%). The risk factors associated with the disease were: birth weight ≤ 1,000 grams OR 4.64 (2.13-10.10), moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia 3.13 (1.44-6.81), sepsis events ≥ three OR 3.43 (1.62-7.28), prolonged sedation OR 4.09 (1.06-15.73), prolonged corticoid OR 9.54 (2.06-44.16).

CONCLUSIONS:

Is probably the birth weight less than 1,000 grams, moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, three or more events of sepsis and prolonged sedation and corticoid were significant risk factors for MBD.