Project description:ObjectiveTo describe discordance in antenatal corticosteroid use and resuscitation following extremely preterm birth and its relationship with infant survival and neurodevelopment.Study designA multicenter cohort study of 4858 infants 22-26 weeks of gestation born 2006-2011 at 24 US hospitals participating in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network, with follow-up through 2013. Survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes were available at 18-22 months of corrected age for 4576 (94.2%) infants. We described antenatal interventions, resuscitation, and infant outcomes. We modeled the effect on infant outcomes of each hospital increasing antenatal corticosteroid exposure for resuscitated infants born at 22-24 weeks of gestation to rates observed at 25-26 weeks of gestation.ResultsDiscordant antenatal corticosteroid use and resuscitation, where one and not the other occurred, were more frequent for births at 22 and 23 but not 24 weeks (rate ratio [95% CI] at 22 weeks: 1.7 [1.3-2.2]; 23 weeks: 2.6 [2.2-3.2]; 24 weeks: 1.0 [0.8-1.2]) when compared with 25-26 weeks. Among infants resuscitated at 23 weeks, adjusting each hospital's rate of antenatal corticosteroid use to the average at 25-26 weeks (89.2%) was projected to increase infant survival by 7.1% (95% CI 5.4-8.8%) and survival without severe impairment by 6.4% (95% CI 4.7-8.1%). No significant change in outcomes was projected for infants resuscitated at 22 weeks, where few (n = 22) resuscitated infants received antenatal corticosteroids.ConclusionsInfants born at 23 weeks were more frequently resuscitated without antenatal corticosteroids than other extremely preterm infants. When resuscitation is intended, consistent provision of antenatal corticosteroids may increase infant survival and survival without impairment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT00063063 (Generic Database) and NCT00009633 (Follow-Up Study).
Project description:ImportanceAdministration-to-birth intervals of antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) vary. The significance of this variation is unclear. Specifically, to our knowledge, the shortest effective administration-to-birth interval is unknown.ObjectiveTo explore the associations between ANS administration-to-birth interval and survival and morbidity among very preterm infants.Design, setting, and participantsThe Effective Perinatal Intensive Care in Europe (EPICE) study, a population-based prospective cohort study, gathered data from 19 regions in 11 European countries in 2011 and 2012 on 4594 singleton infants with gestational ages between 24 and 31 weeks, without severe anomalies and unexposed to repeated courses of ANS. Data were analyzed November 2016.ExposureTime from first injection of ANS to delivery in hours and days.Main outcomes and measuresThree outcomes were studied: in-hospital mortality; a composite of mortality or severe neonatal morbidity, defined as an intraventricular hemorrhage grade of 3 or greater, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, surgical necrotizing enterocolitis, or stage 3 or greater retinopathy of prematurity; and severe neonatal brain injury, defined as an intraventricular hemorrhage grade of 3 or greater or cystic periventricular leukomalacia.ResultsOf the 4594 infants included in the cohort, 2496 infants (54.3%) were boys, and the mean (SD) gestational age was 28.5 (2.2) weeks and mean (SD) birth weight was 1213 (400) g. Mortality for the 662 infants (14.4%) unexposed to ANS was 20.6% (136 of 661). Administration of ANS was associated with an immediate and rapid decline in mortality, reaching a plateau with more than 50% risk reduction after an administration-to-birth interval of 18 to 36 hours. A similar pattern for timing was seen for the composite mortality or morbidity outcome, whereas a significant risk reduction of severe neonatal brain injury was associated with longer administration-to-birth intervals (greater than 48 hours). For all outcomes, the risk reduction associated with ANS was transient, with increasing mortality and risk for severe neonatal brain injury associated with administration-to-birth intervals exceeding 1 week. Under the assumption of a causal relationship between timing of ANS and mortality, a simulation of ANS administered 3 hours before delivery to infants who did not receive ANS showed that their estimated decline in mortality would be 26%.Conclusions and relevanceAntenatal corticosteroids may be effective even if given only hours before delivery. Therefore, the infants of pregnant women at risk of imminent preterm delivery may benefit from its use.
Project description:IntroductionDespite the prevalent use of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) to prevent preterm infants' adverse neonatal complications, there is currently no consensus on administration-to-birth intervals of ACS. International guidelines broadly agree that the administration of antenatal corticosteroids should be within 7 days prior to preterm birth. However, there is little evidence to support narrower optimal ACS administration-to-birth interval time. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between the administration-to-birth interval of ACS which is bounded by 48 hours and neonatal outcomes in very preterm infants.Materials and methodsThis is a single-center prospective observational study. Data were collected prospectively from eligible infants from January 2008 to April 2014 at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, neonatal outcomes were compared between two groups based on the interval of antenatal corticosteroid administration-to-birth: the interval of <48h, and the interval of >48h. It was noted that the entire study was completed by Dongli Song et al., and uploaded the data to the DATADRYAD website. The author only used this data for secondary analysis.ResultsAfter adjusting potential confounders (gestational age, sex, birth weight, duration of cord clamping and delivery mode), the interval of >48h group compared to the interval of <48h group had significant reductions in mortality (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.59), any retinopathy of prematurity (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16-0.82), severe retinopathy of prematurity (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.45), any intubation (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.20-0.75) and higher 1 min Apgar (β: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.10-1.02).ConclusionThis study shows that in very preterm infants, compared with the interval of ACS<48h, the interval of ACS>48 hours has a significant health promotion effect.
Project description:BackgroundAntenatal corticosteroids (ACS) are highly effective at improving outcomes for preterm newborns. Evidence suggests the benefits of ACS may vary with the time interval between administration-to-birth. However, the optimal ACS administration-to-birth interval is not yet known. In this systematic review, we synthesised available evidence on the relationship between ACS administration-to-birth interval and maternal and newborn outcomes.MethodsThis review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021253379). We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Global Index Medicus on 11 Nov 2022 with no date or language restrictions. Randomised and non-randomised studies of pregnant women receiving ACS for preterm birth where maternal and newborn outcomes were reported for different administration-to-birth intervals were eligible. Eligibility screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed by two authors independently. Fetal and neonatal outcomes included perinatal and neonatal mortality, preterm birth-related morbidity outcomes and mean birthweight. Maternal outcomes included chorioamnionitis, maternal mortality, endometritis, and maternal intensive care unit admission.FindingsTen trials (4592 women; 5018 neonates), 45 cohort studies (at least 22,992 women; 30,974 neonates) and two case-control studies (355 women; 360 neonates) met the eligibility criteria. Across studies, 37 different time interval combinations were identified. There was considerable heterogeneity in included administration-to-birth intervals and populations. The odds of neonatal mortality, respiratory distress syndrome and intraventricular haemorrhage were associated with the ACS administration-to-birth interval. However, the interval associated with the greatest improvements in newborn outcomes was not consistent across studies. No reliable data were available for maternal outcomes, though odds of chorioamnionitis might be associated with longer intervals.IntepretationAn optimal ACS administration-to-birth interval likely exists, however variations in study design limit identification of this interval from available evidence. Future research should consider advanced analysis techniques such as individual patient data meta-analysis to identify which ACS administration-to-birth intervals are most beneficial, and how these benefits can be optimised for women and newborns.FundingThis study was conducted with funding support from the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH), a co-sponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization.
Project description:BackgroundThe administration of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) to women who are at risk of preterm birth has been proven to reduce not only the mortality, but also the major morbidities of the preterm infants. The rate of ACS and the risk factors associated with ACS use in Chinese population is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the rate of ACS use and the associated perinatal factors in the tertiary maternal centers of China.MethodsData for this retrospective observational study came from a clinical database of preterm infants established by REIN-EPIQ trial. All infants born at < 34 weeks of gestation and admitted to 18 tertiary maternal centers in China from 2017 to 2018 were enrolled. Any dose of dexamethasone was given prior to preterm delivery was recorded and the associated perinatal factors were analyzed.ResultsThe rate of ACS exposure in this population was 71.2% (range 20.2 - 92%) and the ACS use in these 18 maternal centers varied from 20.2 to 92.0% in this period. ACS exposure was higher among women with preeclampsia, caesarean section delivery, antibiotic treatment and who delivered infants with lower gestational age and small for gestational age. ACS use was highest in the 28-31 weeks gestational age group, and lowest in the under 26 weeks of gestational age group (x2 = 65.478, P < 0.001). ACS exposure was associated with lower odds of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death (OR, 0.778; 95% CI 0.661 to 0.916) and invasive respiration requirement (OR, 0.668; 95% CI 0.585 to 0.762) in this population.ConclusionThe ACS exposure was variable among maternity hospitals and quality improvement of ACS administration is warranted.
Project description:Background We determined whether dimensions of psychosocial distress during pregnancy individually and collectively predicted preterm birth (PTB) in Pakistani women as it may be misleading to extrapolate results from literature predominantly conducted in high-income countries. Methods This cohort study included 1603 women recruited from four Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children in Sindh, Pakistan. The primary binary outcome of PTB (i.e., livebirth before 37 completed weeks’ gestation) was regressed on self-reported symptoms of anxiety (Pregnancy-Related Anxiety (PRA) Scale and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1), depression (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS)), and covariates such as chronic stress (Perceived Stress Scale) assessed with standardized question and scales with established language equivalency (Sindhi and Urdu). Results All 1603 births occurred between 24 and 43 completed weeks’ gestation. PRA was a stronger predictor of PTB than other types of antenatal psychosocial distress conditions. Chronic stress had no effect on the strength of association between PRA and PTB and a slight but non-significant effect on depression. A planned pregnancy significantly lowered risk of PTB among women who experienced PRA. Aggregate antenatal psychosocial distress did not improve model prediction over PRA. Conclusions Like studies in high-income countries, PRA became a strong predictor of PTB when considering interactive effects of whether the current pregnancy was planned. Women’s resilience and abilities to make sexual and reproductive health decisions are important to integrate in future research. Findings should be generalized with caution as socio-cultural context is a likely effect modifier. We did not consider protective/strength-oriented factors, such as resilience among women.
Project description:ObjectiveTo assess whether antenatal azithromycin given to pregnant women with vaginal cerclage can reduce preterm birth or not.Materials and methodsWe randomized 50 pregnant ladies who underwent cerclage at Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital in group A (receiving 500 mg Azithromycin oral tablets (Zithrokan®, Hikma, Egypt) one tablet orally twice daily for three days in 3 courses at 14th, 24th and 32nd week, plus usual antenatal care) and an identical group B (receiving usual antenatal care). Our primary outcome was gestational age at delivery, and secondary outcomes were birthweight, mode of delivery, and maternal, and perinatal complications. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with number: NCT04278937.ResultsPregnancy was more prolonged in the Azithromycin group (delivery at 36.8 weeks vs 34.1 weeks; p=0.017). Also, a higher birthweight was observed in the Azithromycin group (2932.6 gm vs 2401.8 gm; p=0.006). No significant difference was found between the two groups as regards to other outcomes (miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal intensive care unit admission, antepartum hemorrhage, postpartum pyrexia, need for blood transfusion).ConclusionAdding antenatal azithromycin to women undergoing cerclage prolongs pregnancy and reduces the risk of preterm birth, with a slight increase in birthweight.
Project description:ObjectiveTo describe maternal and neonatal glycaemic control following antenatal corticosteroid administration to women with diabetes in pregnancy.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingA tertiary hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.PopulationWomen with diabetes in pregnancy who received antenatal corticosteroids from 2006-2016.MethodsCorticosteroid administration, maternal and neonatal glycaemia data were retrieved from electronic patient records. Demographic data were downloaded from the hospital database. Relationships between variables were analysed using multivariate analysis.Main outcome measuresMaternal hyperglycaemia and neonatal hypoglycaemia.ResultsCorticosteroids were administered to 647 of 7317 of women with diabetes (8.8%) who gave birth to 715 babies. After an initial course of corticosteroids, 92% and 52% of women had blood glucose concentrations > 7 and > 10 mmol/L respectively. Median peak blood glucose concentration of approximately 10 mmol/L occurred 9 hours after corticosteroid administration and hyperglycaemia lasted approximately 72 hours. Thirty percent of women gave birth within 72 hours of the last dose of corticosteroids. Babies of women who were hyperglycaemic within 24 hours of birth were more likely to develop hypoglycaemia (< 2.6 mmol/L, OR 1.51 [95% CI 1.10-2.07], p = 0.01) and severe hypoglycaemia (≤ 2.0 mmol/L, OR 2.00 [95% CI 1.41-2.85], p < 0.0001) than babies of non-hyperglycaemic mothers. There was no association between maternal glycaemia within 7 days of the last dose of corticosteroids and neonatal hypoglycaemia.ConclusionsHyperglycaemia is common in women with diabetes in pregnancy following antenatal corticosteroid administration. Maternal hyperglycaemia in the 24 hours prior to birth is associated with increased risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia. Limitations included the retrospective study design, so that not all data were available for all women and babies and the glucose testing schedule was variable.