Dataset Information

Effect of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal outcomes and iron status at 4 months: a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the effects of delayed umbilical cord clamping, compared with early clamping, on infant iron status at 4 months of age in a European setting.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Swedish county hospital.

Participants

400 full term infants born after a low risk pregnancy.

Intervention

Infants were randomised to delayed umbilical cord clamping (≥ 180 seconds after delivery) or early clamping (≤ 10 seconds after delivery).

Main outcome measures

Haemoglobin and iron status at 4 months of age with the power estimate based on serum ferritin levels. Secondary outcomes included neonatal anaemia, early respiratory symptoms, polycythaemia, and need for phototherapy.

Results

At 4 months of age, infants showed no significant differences in haemoglobin concentration between the groups, but infants subjected to delayed cord clamping had 45% (95% confidence interval 23% to 71%) higher mean ferritin concentration (117 μg/L v 81 μg/L, P < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency (1 (0.6%) v 10 (5.7%), P = 0.01, relative risk reduction 0.90; number needed to treat = 20 (17 to 67)). As for secondary outcomes, the delayed cord clamping group had lower prevalence of neonatal anaemia at 2 days of age (2 (1.2%) v 10 (6.3%), P = 0.02, relative risk reduction 0.80, number needed to treat 20 (15 to 111)). There were no significant differences between groups in postnatal respiratory symptoms, polycythaemia, or hyperbilirubinaemia requiring phototherapy.

Conclusions

Delayed cord clamping, compared with early clamping, resulted in improved iron status and reduced prevalence of iron deficiency at 4 months of age, and reduced prevalence of neonatal anaemia, without demonstrable adverse effects. As iron deficiency in infants even without anaemia has been associated with impaired development, delayed cord clamping seems to benefit full term infants even in regions with a relatively low prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT01245296.

SUBMITTER: Andersson O

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3217058 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundPlacental management strategies such as umbilical cord milking and delayed cord clamping may provide a range of benefits for the newborn. The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of umbilical cord milking and delayed cord clamping for the prevention of neonatal hypoglycaemia.MethodsThree databases and five clinical trial registries were systematically reviewed to identify randomised controlled trials comparing umbilical cord milking or delayed cord clamping with control in term and preterm infants. The primary outcome was neonatal hypoglycaemia (study defined). Two independent reviewers conducted screening, data extraction and quality assessment. Quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB-2). Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Meta-analysis using a random effect model was done using Review Manager 5.4. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42022356553).ResultsData from 71 studies and 14 268 infants were included in this review; 22 (2 537 infants) compared umbilical cord milking with control, and 50 studies (11 731 infants) compared delayed with early cord clamping. For umbilical cord milking there were no data on neonatal hypoglycaemia, and no differences between groups for any of the secondary outcomes. We found no evidence that delayed cord clamping reduced the incidence of hypoglycaemia (6 studies, 444 infants, RR = 0.87, CI: 0.58 to 1.30, p = 0.49, I2 = 0%). Delayed cord clamping was associated with a 27% reduction in neonatal mortality (15 studies, 3 041 infants, RR = 0.73, CI: 0.55 to 0.98, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%). We found no evidence for the effect of delayed cord clamping for any of the other outcomes. The certainty of evidence was low for all outcomes.ConclusionWe found no data for the effectiveness of umbilical cord milking on neonatal hypoglycaemia, and no evidence that delayed cord clamping reduced the incidence of hypoglycaemia, but the certainty of the evidence was low.

Project description:BackgroundDelayed cord clamping (DCC) is a placental to new-born transfusion strategy recommended by obstetric and gynaecological societies. Though not widely adopted, umbilical cord milking (UCM) may achieve faster transfusion when DCC cannot be performed such as when a neonate requires resuscitation.MethodsPragmatic, two-arm, randomized clinical trial in which consenting women in spontaneous labour or provider-initiated delivery at 28 to less than 37 weeks at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, were enrolled. At delivery, stable preterm infants were randomized to UCM (4 times) or DCC (60 seconds). Neonatal samples were collected for analysis at 24 hours after delivery. Maternal primary PPH (within 24 hours) and neonatal jaundice (within 1 week) were evaluated clinically. The primary outcome was the mean neonatal haemoglobin level at 24 hours after birth. Modified Intention to treat analysis was used for all outcomes. P-value was significant at p<0.05.ResultsBetween March 2018 to March 2019, 344 pregnant women underwent screening, and 280 eligible participants were randomized when delivery was imminent. The intervention was not performed on 19 ineligible neonates. Of the remaining 260 neonates, 133 underwent UCM while 128 underwent DCC. Maternal and neonatal baseline characteristics were similar. The mean neonatal haemoglobin (17.1 vs 17.5 grams per decilitre, p = 0.191), haematocrit (49.6% vs 50.3%, p = 0.362), anaemia (9.8% vs 11.7%, p = 0.627), maternal PPH (2.3% vs 3.1%, p = 0.719) were similar between UCM and DCC respectfully. However, neonatal polycythaemia (2.3% vs 8.6%, p = 0.024) and neonatal jaundice (6.8% vs 15.6%, p = 0.024) were statistically significantly lower in UCM compared to DCC.ConclusionUCM compared to DCC for preterm neonates resulted in similar outcomes for neonatal haemoglobin, haematocrit, anaemia and maternal primary PPH and a lower proportion of neonatal polycythaemia and clinical jaundice. UCM offers a comparable method of placental transfusion compared to DCC and may be considered as an alternative to DCC in preterm neonates at 28 to <37 weeks' gestation.

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