Objective: Osteopenia of prematurity is an important cause of morbidity in preterm newborns. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings and risk factors of osteopenia of prematurity in the newborns followed up in our unit.

Method: This study was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Newborns with a gestational age of ≤ 32 weeks, a birth weight of ≤ 1500g were included in the study.

Results: The study included a total of 50 newborns. In patients with osteopenia of prematurity, invasive/noninvasive respiratory support, and duration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were longer, the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion rates, use of diuretics and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were higher (p <0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that prolonged duration of TPN was the most important risk factor for osteopenia of prematurity (OR: 1.484(1.009-2.182); p: 0.045).

Conclusion: This study shows that osteopenia of prematurity remains to be an important health problem in premature newborns. Patients with prolonged TPN infusions are at risk of developing osteopenia of prematurity. Adjustment of mineral supplements in parenteral nutrition according to calcium and phosphorus levels should be started early in life, and enteral nutrition should be encouraged by reducing the duration of TPN use. Further studies are needed to increase our awareness of osteopenia of prematurity and to clarify the relationship between PPI use and RBC transfusion and osteopenia of prematurity.

Keywords: Prematurity, osteopenia of prematurity, risk factor, proton pump inhibitor, red blood cell transfusion