incidence and risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants below 32 weeks of gestation

Introduction:bronchopulmonary dysplasia (bpd) remains a major cause of morbidity in preterm infants, particularly those born at <32 weeks of gestation. this study aimed to determine the incidence and severity of bpd and identify associated risk factors in a high-risk neonatal population in sulaimaniyah, iraq.materials and methods:a retrospective observational study was conducted over 12 months (january–december 2025) across two tertiary nicus. preterm infants born at <32 weeks and admitted within 24 hours of birth were included. data were extracted from medical records, and bpd was diagnosed and graded at 36 weeks’ postmenstrual age.results:twenty preterm infants were included. most were male (70%) and had a birth weight between 500–999 g (70%). bpd incidence was 100%, with 16 (80%) cases classified as severe and 4 (20%) as moderate. recurrent apnea was experienced by 10 (50%) infants and was the only factor significantly associated with bpd severity (p=0.043). other factors, including gestational age, birth weight, mechanical ventilation, and antenatal steroid administration, showed no significant association. logistic regression revealed no statistically significant predictors of bpd severity.conclusion:the study found a high incidence of severe bpd among infants born before 32 weeks. recurrent apnea was significantly associated with severe bpd, indicating a need for early detection and targeted interventions. larger multicenter studies with extended follow-up are needed to validate these findings and better understand the multifactorial etiology of bpd.