[CRIB score, birth weight and gestational age in neonatal mortality risk evaluation].

Objective: To evaluate the mortality rate of very low birth weight babies born at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) during a specified period of time according to variations in CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies) score, birth weight and gestational age.

Methods: From January 1997 to December 2000, the CRIB score was prospectively applied to all newborn infants admitted to the NICU of an university hospital of Londrina, Brazil, with birthweight under 1,500 g and/or gestational age of less than 31 weeks. The exclusion criteria were: death before 12 hours of life, presence of lethal congenital malformations and newborns who had been referred from other hospital.