Int J Clin Pediatr

International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, ISSN 1927-1255 print, 1927-1263 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Int J Clin Pediatr and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://ijcp.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 15, Number 1, March 2026, pages 26-30

Significance of Nucleated Red Blood Cells as a Predictor of Clinical Outcome of Asphyxia in Neonates

↓ Figure 1. ROC curve analysis of absolute NRBC stratified by outcomes. NRBC: nucleated red blood cell; ROC: receiver operating characteristic.

↓ Figure 2. ROC curve analysis of relative NRBC stratified by outcomes. NRBC: nucleated red blood cell; ROC: receiver operating characteristic.

↓ **Table 1.** Subject Demographic Data Based on Outcomes
Variables	Outcomes	P
NNBW: normal newborn baby weight; LBW: low birth weight infant; VLBW: very low birth weight infant; ELBW: extremely low birth weight infant.
Gender
Male	27	55.1	32	54.2	1.000
Female	22	44.9	27	45.8
Birth weight
NNBW	8	16.3	23	39	0.010
LBW	16	32.7	22	37.3
VLBW	16	32.7	11	18.6
ELBW	9	18.4	3	5.1
Parity
Primipara	19	38.8	22	37.3	1.000
Multipara	30	61.2	37	62.7
Degree of asphyxia
Mild	3	6.1	15	25.4	< 0.001
Moderate	20	40.8	35	59.3
Severe	26	53.1	9	15.3
Gestational age
Preterm	39	79.6	41	69.5	0.331
Aterm	10	20.4	18	30.5
Mode of delivery
Abdominal	33	67.3	50	84.7	0.057
Vaginal	16	32.7	9	15.3
On ventilator
Yes	49	100	28	47.5	< 0.001
No	0	0	31	52.5

↓ Table 1. Subject Demographic Data Based on Outcomes

Variables

Outcomes

Death

Alive

NNBW: normal newborn baby weight; LBW: low birth weight infant; VLBW: very low birth weight infant; ELBW: extremely low birth weight infant.

Gender

Male

55.1

54.2

1.000

Female

44.9

45.8

Birth weight

NNBW

16.3

0.010

LBW

32.7

37.3

VLBW

32.7

18.6

ELBW

18.4

5.1

Parity

Primipara

38.8

37.3

1.000

Multipara

61.2

62.7

Degree of asphyxia

Mild

6.1

25.4

< 0.001

Moderate

40.8

59.3

Severe

53.1

15.3

Gestational age

Preterm

79.6

69.5

0.331

Aterm

20.4

30.5

Mode of delivery

Abdominal

67.3

84.7

0.057

Vaginal

32.7

15.3

On ventilator

Yes

100

47.5

< 0.001

52.5

↓ **Table 2.** Absolute and Relative NRBCs Level Cutoffs Based on Outcomes
Variables	AUC	Asymptotic significance	95% CI	Cutoff point
AUC: area under the curve; CI: confidence interval; NRBC: nucleated red blood cell.
Absolute NRBCs	0.859	< 0.001	0.781	0.937	1.28
Relative NRBCs	0.829	< 0.001	0.747	0.910	10.5

↓ Table 2. Absolute and Relative NRBCs Level Cutoffs Based on Outcomes

Variables

AUC

Asymptotic significance

95% CI

Cutoff point

Lower

Upper

AUC: area under the curve; CI: confidence interval; NRBC: nucleated red blood cell.

Absolute NRBCs

0.859

< 0.001

0.781

0.937

1.28

Relative NRBCs

0.829

< 0.001

0.747

0.910

10.5

↓ **Table 3.** Correlation of Absolute and Relative NRBCs to Outcomes
Variables	Outcomes	P
NRBCs: nucleated red blood cells.
Absolute NRBCs
≥ 1.28	41	83.7	9	15.3	< 0.001
< 1.28	8	16.3	50	84.7
Relative NRBCs
≥ 10.5	40	81.6	11	18.6	< 0.001
< 10.5	9	18.4	48	81.4

↓ Table 3. Correlation of Absolute and Relative NRBCs to Outcomes

Variables

Outcomes

Death

Alive

NRBCs: nucleated red blood cells.

Absolute NRBCs

≥ 1.28

83.7

15.3

< 0.001

< 1.28

16.3

84.7

Relative NRBCs

≥ 10.5

81.6

18.6

< 0.001

< 10.5

18.4

81.4

↓ **Table 4.** Results of Multivariate Tests on Outcomes
Variables	B	P	PR	95% CI
CI: confidence interval; NRBCs: nucleated red blood cells; PR: prevalence ratio.
Birth weight	−0.171	0.602	0.843	0.444–1.602
Degree of asphyxia severity	−1.418	0.007	0.242	0.086–0.683
Mode of delivery	−1.261	0.093	0.283	0.065–1.234
Absolute NRBCs	2.335	0.001	10.332	2.469–43.244
Relative NRBCs	2.055	0.006	7.805	1.805–33.744

↓ Table 4. Results of Multivariate Tests on Outcomes

Variables

95% CI

CI: confidence interval; NRBCs: nucleated red blood cells; PR: prevalence ratio.

Birth weight

−0.171

0.602

0.843

0.444–1.602

Degree of asphyxia severity

−1.418

0.007

0.242

0.086–0.683

Mode of delivery

−1.261

0.093

0.283

0.065–1.234

Absolute NRBCs

2.335

0.001

10.332

2.469–43.244

Relative NRBCs

2.055

0.006

7.805

1.805–33.744