Insensible water loss in extremely preterm infants cared for in incubators with 70% and 90% relative humidity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To determine the insensible water losses (IWL) in preterm infants nursed in incubators with 70% or 90% relative humidity (RH). Study design: This was a single center retrospective study of extremely preterm infants between 23- and 28-weeks gestational ages nursed in 70% and 90% RH. IWL was calculated using a formula that utilized infants’ fluid intake, urine output and body weight changes. IWL between the two groups were compared using independent t-test. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the effects of humidity on IWL after adjusting for confounding variables. Results: IWL was higher in infants nursed in 70% RH when compared with those nursed in 90% RH (47.7 ±30.3 vs. 28.8 ±39.6, p=002). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that RH has an independent effect on the insensible water loss. Conclusion: Extremely preterm infants nursed in incubator with 70% RH have higher IWL than infants nursed in 90% RH.
Source: Journal of Perinatology
Authors: Narendra Dereddy, Deborah Ruth, Jianbin Zhu, Julie Pepe, William Oh
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4408478554