Table 1.
Characteristics of participants in the STRONG study and LPMT trial.
| Characteristic | STRONG (N = 45) | LPMT Trial (N = 23) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPMT (n = 13) ^ | Waitlist (n = 10) ^ | ||
| Child characteristics | |||
| Gestational age in weeks | 27 (26–28) | 26 (25–28) | 26 (25–28) |
| Birth weight (grams) | 1000 (790–1248) | 900 (703–1045) | 810 (734–965) |
| Male sex | 22 (49) | 6 (46) | 3 (30) |
| Multiple birth | 9 (20) | 2 (15) & | 1 (10) |
| Apgar 5 min | 7.0 (6.0–8.0) | 6.0 (4.5–7.5) | 7.5 (5.8–9.0) |
| NICU admission (days) | 34.5 (24–45) | 39 (24–48) | 53 (37–72) |
| ACS, ≥1 dose | 38 (84) | 12 (92) | 10 (100) |
| Sectio caesarea | 23 (51) | 9 (69) | 5 (50) |
| Mechanical ventilation | 30 (67) | 9 (69) | 9 (90) |
| Inotropic agents | 5 (11) | 3 (23) | 0 (0) |
| PDA, hemodynamically significant | 20 (44) | 3 (23) | 7 (70) * |
| NEC | 4 (9) | 4 (30) | 2 (20) |
| Surgical NEC | 2 (4) | 2 (15) | 1 (10) |
| Sepsis, culture proven | 16 (36) | 2 (15) | 3 (30) |
| IVH ≥ grade III | 6 (13) | 3 (23) | 0 (0) |
| PVL ≥ grade II | 1 (2) | 1 (8) | 0 (0) |
| Maternal history | |||
| First pregnancy | 27 (60) | 6 (46) | 6 (60) |
| Previously premature childbirth (<32 weeks of gestation) | 4 (9) | 3 (23) | 0 (0) |
| Social and/or psychological problems | 7 (16) | 0 (0) | 1 (10) # |
Data are presented as median (25th–75th percentile) or N (%) where appropriate. STRONG—Stress and Outcomes in NICU Graduates; LPMT trial—Live-Performed Music Therapy trial, 12 infants participated in both studies, of which six in the LPMT group and six in the waitlist group; ACS—antenatal corticosteroids; BPD—bronchopulmonary dysplasia; PDA—persistent ductus arteriosus; NEC—necrotizing enterocolitis; IVH—intraventricular hemorrhage; PVL—periventricular leukomalacia. ^ including one set of twins for which only one set of questionnaires was completed; & one twin sister was deceased before informed consent was obtained; # i.e., financial problems and involvement of child protection services; * p < 0.05 for children in the music therapy versus waitlist group.