TABLE 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of neonates divided according to the NICI score categories.
| Control-group | IP-group | P | |||
| NICI score | 0 | I | II | III | |
| N° neonates | 13 | 7 | 20 | 6 | |
| Gestational age (week) Median (range) | 31.2 (27.1–32.8) | 28.2 (27.3–29.1) | 27.1 (26.3–30.2) | 27.9 (25.3–31.7) | 0.085 |
| Postmenstrual age at MRI (week) Median (range) | 40.1 (39.1–41.2) | 40.1 (39.3–40.3) | 40.8 (38.9–41.3) | 40.3 (39.4–41.9) | 0.832 |
| Birth weight (gr) Median (range) | 1189.25 (863.81–1514.21) | 1090.88 (844.32–1427.32) | 1060.18 (713.41–1523.78) | 1190.21 (756.54–1497.59) | 0.743 |
| Gender N°neonates (%) | 0.833 | ||||
| Male | 5 (38%) | 4 (57%) | 8 (40%) | 3 (50%) | |
| Female | 8 (62%) | 3 (43%) | 12 (60%) | 3 (50%) | |
| APGAR 1’ Median (range) | 8.81 (5–10) | 6.97 (5–9) | 6.43 (5–8) | 6.58 (5–7) | 0.011 |
| APGAR 5’ Median (range) | 9.15 (7–10) | 8.91 (7–10) | 8.21 (6–9) | 7.22 (6–8) | 0.003 |
| Days of mechanical ventilation Median (range) | 0 (0) | 2 (0–4) | 6 (2–15) | 9 (3–21) | <0.001 |
| Morphine dose∗ Median (range); N° neonates | 0 (0); 0 | 0.15 (0.13–0.19); 4 | 1.8 (0.51–3.9); 16 | 2.93 (0.6–10.5); 6 | <0.001 |
| Midazolam dose∗ Median (range); N°neonates | 0 (0); 0 | 1.2 (1–3.5); 4 | 2.3 (1.5–6.7); 7 | 6.5 (3.9–11.7); 5 | <0.001 |
| Dexamethasone∗ dose Median (range); N°neonates | 0 (0); 0 | 0.94 (0.8–1.2); 3 | 0.88 (0.7–1.2); 7 | 1.2 (0.75–2.1); 4 | <0.001 |
| Total skin breaks Median (range) | 1 (1–3) | 9 (5–12) | 13 (7–19) | 28 (9–41) | <0.001 |
| Endotracheal intubation N°neonates (%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 20 (100%) | 6 (100%) | <0.001 |
| Surgery N°neonates (%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (100%) | <0.001 |
P indicates significance level of statistic comparisons. Continuous and categorical measures were compared using the Kruskall-Wallis and X2 tests, respectively. Control group, neonates not requiring invasive procedures; IP group, neonates requiring invasive procedures. NICI score, neonatal intensive care invasiveness score. ∗ Cumulative dose in milligrams adjusted for daily body weight (Kg).