Table 1.
Perinatal Characteristics
| Group 1 No feeds n = 19 |
Group 2 Full feeds n = 18 |
Group 3 Restricted n = 17 |
p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gestation at birth, mean ± SD | 27.2 ± 2.3 | 26.4 ± 2.1 | 26.4 ± 1.9 | 0.38 |
| Birth weight, mean ± SD | 1005 ± 331 | 847 ± 218 | 903 ± 214 | 0.16 |
| Birth weight percentile, mean ± SD | 52 ± 26 | 49 ± 29 | 60 ± 30 | 0.46 |
| Female sex, n (%) | 10 (50%) | 11 (55%) | 11 (55%) | 0.94 |
| Singleton birth, n (%) | 18 (90%) | 17 (85%) | 18 (90%) | 0.85 |
| Caesarean delivery, n (%) | 14 (70%) | 12 (60%) | 10 (50%) | 0.44 |
| Maternal age, mean ± SD | 32 ± 5 | 32 ± 5 | 31 ± 4 | 0.88 |
| Received antenatal corticosteroids, n (%) | 20 (100%) | 20 (100%) | 20 (100%) | n/a |
| Received antenatal magnesium, n (%) | 11 (55%) | 17 (85%) | 13 (65%) | 0.12 |
| Grade III/IV intraventricular haemorrhage, n (%) | 0 | 0 | 1 (5%) | 0.36 |
| Early onset sepsis, n (%) | 0 | 0 | 1 (5%) | 0.36 |
| Postnatal age, mean ± SD | 46 ± 15 | 48 ± 18 | 39 ± 14 | 0.14 |
| Corrected gestational age, mean ± SD | 34.4 ± 4.0 | 33.3 ± 1.9 | 31.8 ± 2.3 | 0.02* |
| Weight at time of study, mean ± SD | 1702 ± 640 | 1512 ± 524 | 1440 ± 500 | 0.32 |
| Haemoglobin pre-transfusion, mean ± SD | 93 ± 8 | 92 ± 8 | 94 ± 7 | 0.66 |
| Haematocrit pre-transfusion, mean ± SD | 0.27 ± 0.02 | 0.27 ± 0.03 | 0.28 ± 0.02 | 0.72 |
| Invasive ventilation at time of study, n (%) | 0 | 3 (15%) | 1 (5%) | 0.15 |
| Non-invasive respiratory support at time of study, n (%) | 16 (80%) | 14 (70%) | 18 (90%) | 0.29 |
| Inspired oxygen at start of study period, mean ± SD | 0.26 ± 0.08 | 0.28 ± 0.10 | 0.28 ± 0.08 | 0.65 |
| Transfusion episodes (n)** | 20 | 20 | 20 |
*p < 0.05
**Each transfusion episode treated as a discrete event