Objective To compare the impact of different times of umbilical cord ligation on the short-term prognosis of premature infants in plateau areas, and to provide reference for determining the optimal time of umbilical cord ligation for premature infants in plateau areas.Methods A total of 100 premature infants delivered transvaginally in plateau areas were randomly divided into 25 cases each in the routine group, 60 s group, 120 s group and 180 s group, and the umbilical cords were ligated at 30 s, 60 s, 120 s and 180 s after the deliveries of premature infants, respectively.The incidence of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum bilirubin and related complications of the premature infants in the four groups were compared at 5-7 days after the birth.Results There was no statistical significance in the incidence of hematocrit, feeding intolerance, hyperbilirubinemia and polycytosis among the four groups （all P＞0.05）.The hemoglobin of the routine group was significantly lower than that of the other three groups, and the transcutaneous bilirubin in the 180 s group was significantly higher than that of the other three groups （both P＜0.05）, and there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of anemia among the four groups （P＜0.05）.Conclusion Delayed umbilical cord ligation of premature infants in plateau areas to 60 s-120 s can improve hemoglobin and reduce the incidence of anemia at 5-7 days after the birth, and furthermore, it does not increase the incidence of complications such as polycythemia and hyperbilirubinemia.