Abstract:Objective To investigate the prognostic value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) combined with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100β) in neonates with moderate-to-severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 81 neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Xuzhou Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University between January 2023 and April 2024. Prognosis was assessed 28 days after birth using the Chinese 20-item Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA). Neonates with a score of ≥ 35 were classified into the good prognosis group (55 cases), and those with a score < 35 into the poor prognosis group (26 cases). Clinical baseline characteristics, aEEG parameters, and serum biomarker levels (BDNF, HIF-1α, S100β) were compared between the two groups. A multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was employed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to validate the predictive value of aEEG, serum biomarkers, and their combination for poor prognosis in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE.Results In the poor prognosis group, the incidence of intrauterine asphyxia, the rate of hypothermic therapy between 6 and 12 hours after birth, the severity of aEEG abnormalities, and serum HIF-1α and S100β levels were all higher than in the good prognosis group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores and serum BDNF levels were lower in the poor prognosis group (all P < 0.05). Multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that a high degree of aEEG abnormality [O^R = 3.462 (95% CI: 1.273, 9.416) ], high HIF-1α levels [O^R = 2.459 (95% CI: 1.106, 5.465) ] and high S100β levels [O^R = 3.464 (95% CI: 1.162, 10.330) ] were all risk factors for poor prognosis in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE, whilst high BDNF levels [O^R = 0.773 (95% CI: 0.634, 0.944) ] were a protective factor for poor prognosis in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the combination of aEEG and serum biomarkers had a sensitivity of 88.5% (95% CI: 0.698, 0.976) and a specificity of 92.7% (95% CI: 0.824, 0.980) for predicting poor prognosis in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE.Conclusion Abnormal aEEG findings, along with reduced levels of serum BDNF and elevated levels of serum HIF-1α and S100β, are closely associated with poor prognosis in neonates with moderate-to-severe HIE. The combined detection of these indicators can improve the accuracy of prognostic assessment and holds significant clinical value.