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Research Article: Severity stratification of NICU-admitted neonates using Robson classification and obstetric risk profile: a nomogram-based study

Date Published: 2026-07-08

Abstract:
Admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reflects neonatal morbidity and the downstream impact of obstetric decision-making. While most previous studies have focused on NICU admission as a binary outcome, the determinants of the required level of care remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate whether the Robson classification, which categorises pregnancies according to obstetric characteristics such as parity, fetal presentation, gestational age, prior cesarean section, and onset of labor, together with obstetric risk profile, can stratify the severity of care among neonates admitted to the NICU and identify factors associated with level 3 NICU care. This retrospective, single-center study included 1,815 neonates admitted to the NICU between January 2023 and December 2025 among 7,632 total deliveries. Maternal, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics were analyzed across NICU levels (1–3). Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of level 3 NICU care (vs. levels 1–2). A nomogram was constructed to estimate individualized risk. Model performance was evaluated using discrimination (C-index), calibration (calibration plot and Hosmer–Lemeshow test), and internal validation via bootstrap resampling (1,000 iterations). Overall, 40.4% of NICU-admitted neonates required level 3 care. Higher NICU levels were associated with lower gestational age and birth weight ( p <?0.001). Each additional week of gestation reduced the likelihood of level 3 care (OR?=?0.82, 95% CI: 0.79–0.85). A history of miscarriage was associated with lower odds of level 3 care (OR?=?0.15, 95% CI: 0.08–0.28), although this finding should be interpreted with caution. Neonates born to mothers classified as non–low risk according to the Robson classification had higher odds of level 3 care (OR?=?1.46, 95% CI: 1.18–1.79). The model demonstrated modest discrimination (C-index: 0.695; optimism-corrected: 0.694), good calibration, and consistent performance across clinically relevant threshold probabilities. Gestational age, obstetric risk profile, and Robson classification contribute to stratifying the severity of care among NICU-admitted neonates. The proposed model demonstrated modest discriminatory performance and should be interpreted primarily as an exploratory risk-stratification framework rather than a clinically actionable prediction tool. Although it may help contextualize obstetric risk patterns among NICU-admitted neonates, external validation and refinement are required before any broader clinical application.

Introduction:
Admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reflects neonatal morbidity and the downstream impact of obstetric decision-making. While most previous studies have focused on NICU admission as a binary outcome, the determinants of the required level of care remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate whether the Robson classification, which categorises pregnancies according to obstetric characteristics such as parity, fetal presentation, gestational age, prior cesarean section, and onset of labor,…

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