Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of vitamin A and placebo groups at enrollment
| Characteristic | Vitamin A group (n = 61) | Placebo group (n = 59) |
|---|---|---|
| Gestational age (weeks) | 31 (2.4) | 31 (2.5) |
| Mean (SD) | ||
| Birth weight (g) | 1047 (143) | 1084 (137) |
| Mean (SD) | ||
| Male sex (%) | 36 (59) | 32 (54) |
| Caesarean delivery (%) | 26 (43) | 28 (47) |
| Antenatal steroids (%) | 53 (87) | 50 (85) |
| Antenatal risk factors for sepsis (%) | 11 (18) | 8 (14) |
| Small for gestational age n (%) | 23 (38) | 17 (29) |
| Apgar score at 1 min | 7 (6, 8) | 7 (5, 8) |
| Median (1st, 3rd quartile) | ||
| Apgar score at 5 min | 8 (8, 9) | 8 (8, 9) |
| Median (1st, 3rd quartile) | ||
| On partial feeds (%) | 42 (69) | 40 (68) |
| On antibiotics (%) | 23 (38) | 26 (44) |
| Intraventricular hemorrhage (%) | 5 (8) | 6 (10) |
| On respiratory support (%) | 15 (25) | 13 (22) |
| On invasive ventilation (%) | 6 (10) | 3 (5) |
| FiO2 (%) | 25 (25, 30) | 25 (25, 30) |
| Median (1st, 3rd quartile) |
CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; NIPPV, non invasive positive pressure ventilation; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen