RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess inpatient mortality rate of very-low-birth-weight neonates, their clinical progression and factors associated with mortality. METHODS: Longitudinal study including 360 neonates weighing 500-1500 g who were born in Londrina, Southern Brazil, from January 1, 2002 to June 30, 2004. Data were collected through interviews with the mothers and from medical records and follow-up of neonates during hospitalization. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between variables. Statistically significant variables were selected to the logistic regression model and the level of significance adopted was 5%. RESULTS: Mortality rate was 32.5%. In bivariate analysis, the following variables were associated with death: no prenatal use of corticosteroids; no hypertension/preeclampsia; labor; vaginal delivery; non-cephalic presentation; Apgar scores