Association of early hypocalcemia in preterm neonates with hemodynamically 3 significant patent ductus arteriosus- a retrospective study

Introduction: We hypothesized that early hypocalcemia in the preterm population affects the 33 timely closure of ductus arteriosus. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 34 <30 weeks neonates with echocardiographic findings of PDA. The primary outcome was 35 hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA). Secondary outcomes include 36 Grade 3-4 Intra-ventricular hemorrhage and pulmonary hemorrhage. Results: Out of 290 37 neonates, 108 were identified with early hypocalcemia. The rate of hsPDA in the group with 38 hypocalcemia was 76.4%, whereas the rate of hsPDA in the group without hypocalcemia was 39 74.5% (p=0.71). Incidence of grade 3-4 IVH was 16.0% in the hypocalcemia group and 40 16.8% in the no hypocalcemia group (p = 0.85), and pulmonary hemorrhage is 3.7% in the 41 hypocalcemia group and 8.2% in no hypocalcemia group (p = 0.14). Conclusion: In this 42 retrospective review, we did not find an association of a hsPDA in a preterm baby with early 43 hypocalcemia.