Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of very preterm babies: intervention vs. control (n = 136).
| Intervention (n = 69) |
Control (n = 67) |
p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA (week) § | 29 ± 2.6 | 29 ± 2.5 | 0.995 |
| Birth weight (g) § | 1145.5 ± 344.5 | 1188.9 ± 340.6 | 0.758 |
| Birth height (cm) § | 37.4 ± 3.8 | 37.3 ± 4.5 | 0.995 |
| Birth HC (cm) § | 26.5 ± 2.8 | 26.7 ± 2.9 | 0.884 |
| Female ¶ | 38 (56.7) | 31 (44.9) | 0.176 |
| Antenatal steroid ¶ | 38 (55.9) | 33 (51.6) | 0.727 |
| hCAM ¶ | 21 (35) | 16 (29.6) | 0.556 |
| C/S ¶ | 52 (77.6) | 47 (69.1) | 0.331 |
| Multiple birth ¶ | 26 (38.8) | 31 (44.9) | 0.492 |
| AS 1 min § | 3.7 ± 2 | 4.1 ± 1.9 | 0.417 |
| AS 5 min § | 6.1 ± 2 | 6.4 ± 1.8 | 0.663 |
| Cord ABGA pH § | 7.3 ± 0.1 | 7.3 ± 0.1 | 0.770 |
| RDS ¶ | 54 (78.3) | 57 (85.1) | 0.378 |
| Treated PDA ¶ | 18 (26.5) | 23 (34.9) | 0.350 |
| Sepsis ¶ | 9 (13) | 12 (18.5) | 0.478 |
| NEC ¶ | 12 (17.4) | 7 (10.5) | 0.324 |
| Brain injury | 0.559 | ||
| low-grade IVH ¶ | 26 (37.7) | 21 (31.3) | |
| severe injury ¶ | 9 (13) | 13 (19.4) | |
| Moderate to severe BPD ¶ | 18 (26.1) | 21 (31.8) | 0.569 |
| Steroid for BPD ¶ | 15 (21.7) | 19 (28.4) | 0.431 |
| Invasive ventilation (d) § | 16.9 ± 30.9 | 16.8 ± 24.4 | 0.353 |
| ROP ¶ | 32 (46.4) | 40 (59.7) | 0.127 |
| ROP requiring operation ¶ | 4 (7.3) | 12 (10.5) | 0.365 |
| Hospital stay (d) § | 68.3 ± 36.4 | 64.9 ± 32.2 | 0.652 |
| PMA at discharge (week) § | 38.7 ± 3.4 | 38.6 ± 3.1 | 0.919 |
| Weight at discharge (g) § | 2644.8 ± 681.3 | 2686.8 ± 643.4 | 0.550 |
| Height at discharge (cm) § | 45.2 ± 3.5 | 45.1 ± 3 | 0.902 |
| HC at discharge (cm) § | 32.3 ± 2 | 32.3 ± 2.3 | 0.836 |
The values are expressed as n (%) ¶ or mean ± SD §. Abbreviations: GA, gestational age; HC, head circumference; hCAM, histologic chorioamnionitis; C/S, Cesarean section; AS, Apgar score; ABGA, arterial blood gas analysis; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus; NEC, necrotizing enterocolitis; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; BPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia; ROP, retinopathy of prematurity; PMA, postmenstrual age; HC, head circumference.