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. 2021 Oct 21;2021(10):CD001146. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001146.pub6

Yeh 1997.

Study characteristics
Methods Multi‐centre double‐blind randomised controlled trial
Participants 262 infants of birth weight < 2000 grams with RDS and requiring mechanical ventilation after birth
Interventions Dexamethasone 0.25 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours intravenously on Days 1 to 7; 0.12 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours intravenously from Days 8 to 14; 0.05 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours intravenously from Days 15 to 21; and 0.02 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours intravenously from Days 22 to 28
Control infants were given saline placebo
Outcomes

  • BPD judged at 28 days or at 36 weeks

  • Extubation during the study

  • Mortality

  • Bacteraemia or clinical sepsis

  • Side effects of hyperglycaemia

  • Hypertension

  • Cardiac hypertrophy

  • Hyperparathyroidism

  • Growth failure
Notes —
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Unclear risk Random allocation via central pharmacy random number list; exact method of randomisation not described
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Low risk Allocation concealment: yes
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes Low risk Blinding of intervention: yes
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes Low risk Blinding of outcome measurement: yes
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes Low risk Complete follow‐up: almost for short‐term; 81% for long‐term
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Low risk All prespecified outcomes reported
Other bias Low risk None

ACTH: adrenocorticotrophic hormone; AGA: appropriate for gestational age; BP: blood pressure; BPD: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; CLD: chronic lung disease; CNS: central nervous system; CXR: chest X‐ray; FiO₂: fraction of inspired oxygen;GI: gastrointestinal; HCO₃: bicarbonate; IMV: intermittent mandatory ventilation;IPPV: intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation;IQ: intelligence quotient;IV: intravenous;IVH: intraventricular haemorrhage; MAP: mean airway pressure; MDI: Mental Developmental Index; NDI: neurodevelopmental impairment; NEC: necrotising enterocolitis; NICU: neonatal intensive care unit; NO: nitric oxide; NRN: Neonatal Research Network; O₂: oxygen; OFC: occipitofrontal circumference; PDA: patent ductus arteriosus; PDI: Psychomotor Developmental Index; PIE: pulmonary interstitial emphysema; ppm: parts per million; PVL: periventricular leukomalacia; RDS: respiratory distress syndrome; ROP: retinopathy of prematurity; SaO₂: oxygen saturation; SD: standard deviation; SGA: small for gestational age;SP‐A: surfactant protein‐A; SP‐D: surfactant protein‐D; T3: triiodothyronine; VI: Ventilation Index; vs: versus.