APPLICATION OF DOWNES SCALE IN DIAGNOSING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS IN NEONATES AT THAI NGUYEN NATIONAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

This study evaluated the value of Downes score in diagnosing respiratory distress in neonate at Thai Nguyen National Hospital. A descriptive and cross sectional study were performed on 300 cases of neonate admitted to neonatal and  pediatric emergency department - Thai Nguyen national hospital from July 2021 to April 2022. The results showed that the rate of respiratory distress in the study was 32.33%. Most of them were males, the age of admission is mainly from 1-7 days old (49.7%), preterm neonates (61.7%), the birth weight < 2500 grams (70.7%), cesarean section (52%). The majority of newborns admitted to the hospital had Downes scores from 0-3 points, accounted for 71%, 4-6 points accounted for 25%, 7-10 points accounted for only 4%. Downes score from 4-6 points accounted for the highest rate in the group of children with respiratory distress (69.1%). The optimal cut point of the Downes scale in the study subjects was ≥ 3, with sensitivity 91.8% and specificity 93.1%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.978. Downes score had good diagnostic value for respiratory distress in neonates.