Table 1. Adverse outcome estimates from randomised controlled trials: Comparison 1—Magnesium sulphate versus placebo or no treatment.
| Outcome | Studies | Participants | Method (I2) | RR (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Perinatal death | 8 | 13,654 | F (23%) | 1.01 (0.92, 1.10) |
| 1.2 Stillbirth | 9 | 12,340 | F (0%) | 0.99 (0.87, 1.12) |
| 1.3 Neonatal death | 11 | 12,987 | F (21%) | 1.00 (0.86, 1.17) |
| 1.4 Death > 28 days, before discharge | 5 | 10,691 | F (0%) | 0.96 (0.60, 1.53) |
| 1.5 Early neonatal death | 1 | 9,024 | F (NA) | 1.09 (0.86, 1.37) |
| 1.6 Late neonatal death | 1 | 9,024 | F (NA) | 1.54 (0.95, 2.49) |
| 1.7 Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute | 2 | 199 | F (17%) | 1.67 (1.02, 2.73) |
| 1.8 Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes | 5 | 12,729 | F (0%) | 1.02 (0.92, 1.14) |
| 1.9 Meconium at birth | 1 | 210 | F (NA) | 1.55 (0.89, 2.72) |
| 1.10 Intubated at birth | 3 | 11,364 | F (30%) | 0.95 (0.87, 1.04) |
| 1.11 Resuscitation in the delivery room | ||||
| 1.11.1 Any | 1 | 2,416 | F (NA) | 0.99 (0.96, 1.03) |
| 1.11.2 Oxygen bag, mask, or both | 1 | 2,416 | F (NA) | 1.07 (0.98, 1.17) |
| 1.11.3 Chest compressions | 1 | 2,416 | F (NA) | 1.11 (0.73, 1.71) |
| 1.12 Respiratory distress syndrome | 7 | 3,639 | R (46%) | 0.95 (0.79, 1.14) |
| 1.13 Transient tachypnoea of the newborn | 2 | 243 | F (0%) | 0.96 (0.52, 1.77) |
| 1.14 Surfactant | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 0.88 (0.62, 1.24) |
| 1.15 Mechanical ventilation | 5 | 12,751 | R (63%) | 1.01 (0.94, 1.09) |
| 1.16 Non-invasive ventilation | 1 | 688 | F (NA) | 1.03 (0.93, 1.15) |
| 1.17 Oxygen required | 1 | 153 | F (NA) | 0.95 (0.67, 1.35) |
| 1.18 Chronic lung disease | 5 | 4,513 | F (0%) | 1.06 (0.96, 1.17) |
| 1.19 Apnoea and bradycardia | 2 | 841 | F (0%) | 1.23 (0.98, 1.53) |
| 1.20 Pneumothorax | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 2.44 (0.26, 22.52) |
| 1.21 Pulmonary haemorrhage | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 2.44 (0.52, 11.41) |
| 1.22 Necrotising enterocolitis | 8 | 4,804 | F (0%) | 1.21 (0.98, 1.51) |
| 1.23 Sepsis | 4 | 2,694 | R (31%) | 0.83 (0.54, 1.28) |
| 1.24 Hypoglycaemia on NICU admission | 1 | 34 | F (NA) | 0.63 (0.06, 6.34) |
| 1.25 Poor feeding | 1 | 90 | F (NA) | No events |
| 1.26 Patent ductus arteriosus | 3 | 2,536 | F (26%) | 0.97 (0.80, 1.17) |
| 1.27 Hypotension | 2 | 3,103 | F (22%) | 1.03 (0.89, 1.19) |
| 1.28 Volume expansion | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 2.03 (1.01, 4.10) |
| 1.29 Mean blood pressure < 10th centile in the first 24 hours | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 1.30 (0.67, 2.53) |
| 1.30 Superior vena cava flow < 41 ml/kg/min in the first 24 hours | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 1.22 (0.62, 2.40) |
| 1.31 Right ventricular output < 120 ml/kg/min in the first 24 hours | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 1.08 (0.51, 2.30) |
| 1.32 Dobutamine | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 1.73 (0.84, 3.57) |
| 1.33 Dopamine | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 2.17 (0.62, 7.62) |
| 1.34 Any inotrope | 1 | 87 | F (NA) | 1.54 (0.82, 2.92) |
| 1.35 Retinopathy of prematurity | 1 | 2,415 | F (NA) | 0.99 (0.85, 1.14) |
| 1.36 Generalised hypotonicity | 1 | 2,415 | F (NA) | 1.03 (0.77, 1.37) |
| 1.37 Seizures | 4 | 11,397 | F (0%) | 0.78 (0.57, 1.06) |
| 1.38 Hyperbilirubinaemia | 1 | 90 | F (NA) | 2.00 (0.19, 21.28) |
| 1.39 Intraventricular haemorrhage | 10 | 4,891 | F (0%) | 0.95 (0.85, 1.06) |
| 1.40 Intraventricular haemorrhage, grade 3 or 4 | 6 | 3,769 | F (19%) | 0.81 (0.60, 1.09) |
| 1.41 Periventricular leucomalacia | 4 | 4,225 | F (0%) | 0.93 (0.68, 1.28) |
| 1.42 Any white matter injury | 1 | 665 | F (NA) | 0.87 (0.62, 1.22) |
| 1.43 Severe white matter injury | 1 | 688 | F (NA) | 0.85 (0.55, 1.32) |
| 1.44 Severe white matter injury or death | 1 | 688 | F (NA) | 0.92 (0.66, 1.28) |
| 1.45 Persistent parenchymal echogenicity | 1 | 8,260 | F (NA) | 1.09 (0.66, 1.81) |
| 1.46 Echodensity in children born < 32 weeks | 1 | 1,613 | F (NA) | 0.38 (0.19, 0.79) |
| 1.47 Echolucency | ||||
| 1.47.1 In all children | 1 | 1,776 | F (NA) | 0.62 (0.37, 1.03) |
| 1.47.2 In children born < 32 weeks | 1 | 1,613 | F (NA) | 0.61 (0.38, 0.97) |
| 1.48 Ventriculomegaly | 2 | 10,036 | F (0%) | 0.98 (0.68, 1.42) |
| 1.49 Any of echodensity, echolucency, intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular haemorrhage, or ventriculomegaly | ||||
| 1.49.1 In all children | 1 | 1,776 | F (NA) | 0.85 (0.69, 1.06) |
| 1.49.2 In children born < 32 weeks | 1 | 1,613 | F (NA) | 0.92 (0.78, 1.09) |
| 1.50 Composite adverse outcome | 1 | 1,776 | F (NA) | 0.62 (0.37, 1.03) |
| 1.51 NICU admission | 3 | 8,519 | F (17%) | 1.00 (0.95, 1.06) |
| 1.52 Intensive care unit stay (days) | 1 | 120 | MD, F (NA) | 0.02 (−0.17, 0.21) |
| 1.53 Hospital stay (days) | 2 | 257 | MD, R (99%) | −2.75 (–8.92, 3.43) |
| 1.54 Special care baby unit admission > 7 days or death | 1 | 9,024 | F (NA) | 1.01 (0.95, 1.08) |
| 1.55 Special care baby unit admission > 7 days | 1 | 8,260 | F (NA) | 1.02 (0.93, 1.11) |
| 1.56 Still in hospital at 6 weeks | 1 | 9,024 | F (NA) | 0.99 (0.06, 15.80) |
Statistically significant effect estimates in bold. Test for heterogeneity represented by I2 statistic; where I2 > 30%, summary estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis.
CI, confidence interval; F, fixed-effects; MD, mean difference; NA, not applicable; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; R, random-effects; RR, risk ratio.