ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence rate and risk factors of premature white matter injury.

MethodsThe gestational age and birth weight of 568 premature infants were analyzed, and the incidence rate of premature white matter injury and its high-risk factors were investigated.

ResultsThe incidence rate of white matter injury in premature infants was 22.2%.In terms of gestational age, the incidence rate of white matter injury in premature infants with gestational age < 28 weeks was the highest.In terms of body mass, the incidence rate of white matter injury in preterm infants with birth weight less than 1.0 kg was the highest.The results of univariate analysis showed that the sepsis, hypoxemia, mechanical ventilation, threatened preterm delivery, intrauterine infection, intrauterine distress, acidosis, history of asphyxia, high blood pressure during pregnancy, prenatal hormones, gestational age and body weight at birth significantly affected the brain white matter injury(P < 0.05).The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that infection during pregnancy, history of asphyxia, cesarean section, and acidosis were the independent risk factors of the occurrence of white matter injury(P < 0.05).

ConclusionsThe lower the gestational age is, the lower the birth weight of premature infants is, and the higher the probability of white matter injury is.The infection during pregnancy, asphyxia history, cesarean section and acidosis are the independent risk factors of white matter injury.