Research

Predischarge transcutaneous bilirubin screening reduces readmission rate for hyperbilirubinaemia in diverse South African newborns: A randomised controlled trial

C Okwundu, V K Bhutani, J Smith, T M Esterhuizen, C Wiysonge

Abstract


Background. In South Africa (SA), healthy term newborns are usually discharged ˂72 hours after delivery. Discharged babies remain at risk for severe hyperbilirubinaemia if it is not identified early. Hyperbilirubinaemia is an important cause of readmission, and also leads to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Use of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening before hospital discharge has been controversial.

Objectives. To test the clinical benefits of TcB screening of healthy newborns before discharge for the outcomes of readmission for jaundice and severe hyperbilirubinaemia in a randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods. This was a RCT. We compared predischarge TcB screening with visual assessment (alone) for jaundice in apparently healthy newborns at a public tertiary hospital in Cape Town, SA. Patients or study participants were not involved in the study design and implementation.

Results. Of the 1 858 infants, 63% were black, 35% of mixed race and 1% white. There was a significant reduction in the rate of readmission for jaundice (risk ratio (RR) 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 - 0.46; p<0.0001) and in the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinaemia (RR 0.27; 95% CI 0.08 - 0.97; p=0.05) with the use of TcB screening compared with visual inspection.

Conclusions. Predischarge TcB screening is superior in identifying newborns at risk of severe hyperbilirubinaemia compared with visual inspection. We recommend that every newborn, regardless of skin pigmentation, should receive objective bilirubin screening before hospital discharge. Universal bilirubin screening in newborns could potentially reduce hyperbilirubinaemia-related morbidity and mortality.


Authors' affiliations

C Okwundu, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

V K Bhutani, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA

J Smith, Neonatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

T M Esterhuizen, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

C Wiysonge, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town; and Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa

Full Text

PDF (324KB)

Keywords

Newborn; Jaundice; Hyperbilirubinaemia; Transcutaneous bilirubin

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2020;110(3):249-254. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2020.v110i3.14186

Article History

Date submitted: 2020-02-26
Date published: 2020-02-26

Article Views

Abstract views: 2135
Full text views: 1224

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here