Novel scoring tool of hypoxemic respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension for defining severity of persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn

OBJECTIVE: To obtain preliminary validity data for a hypoxemic respiratory failure/pulmonary hypertension (HRF/PH) score for classifying persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive neonates admitted to a Children’s hospital from 2016–2021 with PPHN, gestational age ≥34 weeks, and echocardiograms in the first week. We assessed the correlation between HRF/PH score and short-term outcomes using linear and logistic regressions. RESULTS: HRF/PH scores ranged 2–12 (mean 8.5), and were classified mild (0–5), moderate (6–10), and severe (11–15), with 6%, 77% and 17% infants in respective categories. HRF/PH score category correlated with invasive ventilation, nitric oxide, high frequency ventilation, vasoactive infusions, extracorporeal life support and death. HRF/PH score category did not correlate with duration of support or length of stay. CONCLUSION: The HRF/PH score offers a promising representation of disease severity for PPHN. The tool requires further validation in prospective studies and evaluation for long-term outcomes.