Table 2. Characteristics of the infants with outcome known and not known according to treatment assignment^*.

Variable	Outcome Known			Outcome not known			Comparison
	Dex	Placebo	P1	Dex	Placebo	P1	P-value2
	n = 102	n = 92		n = 9	n = 17
Baseline variables
Birth weight – g.	733±132	724±129	0.66	756±128	795±145	0.50	0.06
Gestational age – wk.	25±1.75	25±1.64	0.95	25±1	26±1	0.63	0.30
Male – no. (%)	54(53)	49(53)	0.97	5(56)	6(35)	0.42	0.30
Inborn – no. (%)	95(93)	87(95)	0.68	9(100)	16(94)	1.00	1.00
SGA – no. (%)	12(12)	13(14)	0.62	1(11)	0(0)	0.35	0.33
Antenatal steroids - no. (%)	75(74)	70(76)	0.68	7(78)	12(71)	1.00	0.81
Neonatal Outcomes**
BPD – no./total no. (%)	39/78(50)	41/66(62)	0.15	5(56)	12(71)	0.67	0.35
Clinical steroid use – no. (%)	33(32)	45(49)	0.02	5(56)	11(65)	0.69	0.04
IVH
Any – no./total no. (%)	42/101(42)	28(30)	0.11	2(22)	9(53)	0.22	0.55
Severe (III or IV) – no./total no. (%)	21/101(21)	17(19)	0.69	1(11)	5(29)	0.38	0.69
PVL – no./total no. (%)	6/101(6)	6(7)	1.00	0(0)	1(6)	1.00	1.00
GI perforations – no. (%)	14(14)	7(8)	0.17	2(22)	1(6)	0.27	1.00
ROP (all grades) – no./total no.(%)	67/80(84)	53/64(83)	0.88	6/8(75)	13/16(81)	1.00	0.57

^*Plus-minus values are means ± SD.

^**Total number refers to the number of infants assessed for the outcome if different from the number in that group.

Dex = dexamethasone; SGA = small for gestational age; CLD = chronic lung disease, defined as oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks postmenstrual age; IVH = intraventricular hemorrhage; PVL = periventricular leukomalacia; GI perforation = spontaneous gastrointestinal perforation within first 14 days; ROP = retinopathy of prematurity.

¹Comparison between dexamethasone and placebo groups with either known or unknown outcome.

²Comparison between infants with known and unknown outcomes.