Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the population included.
| Demographic features | Overall (n = 216) |
|---|---|
| Gestational age at birth (weeks), mean ± SD | 29.3 (2.3) |
| Birth weight (g), mean ± SD | 1,117 (268) |
| Male, n (%) | 97 (45) |
| Twins, n (%) | 100 (47) |
| Monochorionic twins, n(%) | 45 (45) |
| Apgar score at 1’, median (range) | 7 (1–9) |
| Apgar score at 5’, median (range) | 8 (3–10) |
| Cesarean section, n (%) | 192 (90) |
| Small for gestational age, n (%) | 42 (20) |
| Days of hospitalization, median (IQr) | 61 (47; 87) |
| Severe brain lesion, n (%) | 29 (13) |
| Other comobidities, n (%) | 56 (26) |
| Maternal age, mean ± SD | 34.6 ± 5.6 |
Severe brain lesions included: IVH grade III–IV and/or PHVD and/or focal cerebellar hemorrhage and/or cPVL and/or more than six PWML and/or brain malformations. Severe comorbidities included (all stages of NEC, severe ROP, severe BPD and sepsis).