Hour-specific Nomogram for Transcutaneous Bilirubin in Newborns in Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a significant health problem in Myanmar, and the rate of kernicterus is also higher than in developed countries. Non-invasive methods for early detection and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia are urgently needed. In this study, we used transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements to develop an hour-specific TcB nomogram for the effective management of hyperbilirubinemia in Myanmar newborns. METHODS: The bilirubin levels of neonates born in Central Women Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar were measured three times a day within 72 hours after birth using a transcutaneous bilirubinometer. An hour-specific TcB nomogram was created based on the data. RESULTS: Participants included 512 infants (287 boys) born in Central Women's Hospital in Yangon. The mean and standard deviation of gestational age was 38.4 +/- 1.2 weeks; that of body weight was 3078 +/- 412 g. A total of 3,039 plots were obtained, and the TcB nomogram was created with smoothed percentile curves (97.5th, 50th, and 2.5th percentiles) for 0-72 hours after birth. CONCLUSIONS: An hour-specific TcB nomogram was successfully created to manage hyperbilirubinemia in Myanmar newborns.