Principal causa síndrome de distrés respiratorio caracterizado con la escala de Silverman en pacientes neonatos en el Hospital León Becerra entre el 2022 y 2024.

Abstract

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in preterm and low birth weight infants. In Ecuador, RDS is a major concern for neonatal intensive care units. The aim of this study was to identify the main cause of RDS in neonates treated at Hospital León Becerra, to characterize its incidence based on clinical and demographic variables, and to assess the relationship between RDS severity and etiology using the Silverman-Andersen scale. A retrospective, observational, and descriptive study was conducted on 201 neonates diagnosed with RDS between 2022 and 2024. Variables included gestational age, birth weight, maternal health status, cause of RDS, and severity classification. Frequency analysis, measures of central tendency, and chi-square tests were applied. The deficiency of pulmonary surfactant was identified as the predominant cause (71.14%). Moderate RDS was the most frequent severity level (50.25%), with a mean gestational age of 31.16 ± 3.61 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1504.59 ± 488.60 grams. A statistically significant association was found between the cause of RDS and its severity (χ² = 23.75; p = 2.52×10⁻³). It was concluded that the severity of RDS varies by underlying cause, with congenital malformations most strongly associated with severe cases.