Correlations between the Status of the Umbilical Cord and Neonatal Health Status

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify correlations between the status of the umbilical cord and neonatal health status.Methods: In total, 172 newborns were enrolled who were admitted to the newborn nursery with a gestational age of 35 weeks or older and a body weight of 2 kg or above. Data were collected on the basic personal information of the newborns, the diameter and soft tissue status of the umbilical cord, and neonatal health status after birth. Analyses were performed using t-test, analysis of variance, <i>x</i><sup>2</sup> test, and Fisher exact test.Results: Umbilical cord diameter exhibited a statistically significant difference by sex (t=2.71, <i>p</i>=.007). A thin umbilical cord diameter was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score less than 8 points (t=2.47, <i>p</i>=.015) and with being transferred to the intensive care unit (t=2.45, p=.015). Poor soft tissue status of the umbilical cord was associated with a 1-minute Apgar score of less than 8 points (<i>x</i><sup>2</sup>=16.68, <i>p</i><.001) and with oxygen being supplied (<i>x</i><sup>2</sup>=4.81, <i>p</i>=.028).Conclusion: Assessing the umbilical cord diameter and status in newborns is an important tool for evaluating neonatal health status after birth, and this point also underscores the importance of professionals' careful observations in the newborn nursery.

Evaluation of Umbilical Cord Thickness and Its Association with Antenatal Maternal Risk Factors: A Cross Sectional Prospective Study

“…Difference in diameter of umbilical cord between male and female neonates was not found significant in this study. This is in contrast with previous studies which all reported thick umbilical cord in males (17,(19)(20)(21)(22).…”

“…A wide diameter of cord indicates a good health of newborn. Udoh et al, Lee et al and Tahmasebi et al also reported similar results in their study (15)(16)(17). The only limitations of these studies were ultrasound guided measurement of cord thickness.…”