NYMC Faculty Publications

A New Scoring System for the Assessment of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

DOI

10.1055/s-0039-3400310

Journal Title

American Journal of Perinatology

First Page

333

Last Page

340

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2020

Department

Pediatrics

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the concordance of a new scoring system for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and NAS scores to the traditional Modified Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring Tool (M-FNAST) score. The NAS score is based on the physiology of withdrawal, with equal emphasis on behavior, and neurological signs.

STUDY DESIGN: The NAS scores for a control group of 202 healthy, term neonates were compared with those for 45 term neonates with NAS. The NAS and M-FNAST scores obtained simultaneously in 45 term neonates with NAS were compared using correlation, linear regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine the validity, reliability, and specificity of the NAS scores.

RESULTS: The association between the NAS and M-FNAST scores was high (Spearman's correlation, 83%; linear regression, 83%), with an area under the curve of the NAS score of 1.00 (

CONCLUSION: The new NAS scoring system is valid, reliable, physiologically based, and correlates closely with the M-FNAST score. The NAS scores may require further validation before its use in clinical practice.

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