Skip to main content
. 2017 Jan 31;2017(1):CD010941. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010941.pub2

Summary of findings 3. Pulse versus tapered continuous dosage regimens to prevent BPD in preterm infants.

Pulse versus tapered continuous dosage regimens to prevent BPD in preterm infants
Patient or population: preterm infants
Settings: neonatal intensive care unit
Intervention: pulse therapy
Comparison: tapered continuous dosage
Outcomes № of participants
 (studies)
 Follow up Quality of the evidence
 (GRADE) Relative effect
 (95% CI) Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)
Risk with continuous dexamethasone therapy Risk difference with Pulse
Death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks PMA 197
 (2 RCTs) ⊕⊕⊝⊝
 LOW 1 2 RR 1.38
 (1.02 to 1.88) Study population
39/100 (39.0%) 148 more per 1000
 (8 more to 343 more)
Moderate
38.2% 145 more per 1000
 (8 more to 336 more)
Death or abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome (various definitions) 76
 (1 RCT) ⊕⊝⊝⊝
 VERY LOW 1 2 3 RR 1.23
 (0.79 to 1.92) Study population
17/37 (45.9%) 106 more per 1000
 (96 fewer to 423 more)
Moderate
46.0% 106 more per 1000
 (96 fewer to 423 more)
*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).
 
 CI: Confidence interval; RR: Risk ratio; OR: Odds ratio;
GRADE Working Group grades of evidenceHigh quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect
 Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different
 Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect
 Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

1 Peformance and detection bias in Bloomfield study

2 Total number of included patients less than OIS calculation

3 Barkemeyer could provide long‐term outcomes