Table 2.
Neonatal and maternal outcomes
| Outcomes | Total (N = 1800) | < 1 course (n = 716): (1) | 1 course (n = 916): (2) | > 1 course (n = 168): (3) | P value | Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for < 1 course | Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) for > 1 course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neonatal | |||||||
| APGAR score < 7 (1 min) | 301 (16.7%) | 104 (14.5%) | 157 (17.1%) | 40 (23.8%) | 0.013ab | 0.832 (0.634–1.093) | 1.441 (0.967–2.148) |
| APGAR score < 7 (5 min) | 85 (4.7%) | 34 (4.7%) | 39 (4.3%) | 12 (7.1%) | 0.269 | 1.144 (0.713–1.836) | 1.756 (0.895–3.444) |
| Post-natal adaptation | 83 (4.6%) | 27 (3.8%) | 48 (5.2%) | 8 (4.8%) | 0.371 | 0.730 (0.450–1.185) | 0.923 (0.427–1.996) |
| Bronchopulmonary dysplasia | 48 (2.7%) | 19 (2.7%) | 23 (2.5%) | 6 (3.6%) | 0.735 | 1.024 (0.547–1.917) | 1.397 (0.556–3.513) |
| Pneumonia | 61 (3.4%) | 18 (2.5%) | 32 (3.5%) | 11 (6.5%) | 0.033b | 0.724 (0.402–1.304) | 2.056 (1.008–4.192) |
| Pneumothorax | 39 (2.2%) | 11 (1.5%) | 25 (2.7%) | 3 (1.8%) | 0.244 | 0.555 (0.270–1.140) | 0.695 (0.207–2.340) |
| Intraventricular haemorrhage | 78 (4.3%) | 29 (4.1%) | 35 (3.8%) | 14 (8.3%) | 0.027a | 1.047 (0.629–1.741) | 2.215 (1.159–4.233) |
| Necrotising enterocolitis | 62 (3.4%) | 18 (2.5%) | 37 (4.0%) | 7 (4.2%) | 0.212 | 0.652 (0.366–1.162) | 0.988 (0.429–2.276) |
| Neonatal death | 44 (2.4%) | 17 (2.4%) | 20 (2.2%) | 7 (4.2%) | 0.306 | 1.043 (0.538–2.019) | 2.024 (0.832–4.923) |
| Sepsis | 175 (9.7%) | 58 (8.1%) | 90 (9.8%) | 27 (16.1%) | 0.007ab | 0.812 (0.574–1.150) | 1.737 (1.086–2.777) |
| Hypothermia | 52 (2.9%) | 22 (3.1%) | 23 (2.5%) | 7 (4.2%) | 0.465 | 1.284 (0.708–2.330) | 1.648 (0.691–3.932) |
| Phototherapy | 1054 (58.6%) | 398 (55.6%) | 532 (58.1%) | 124 (73.8%) | < 0.001ab | 0.925 (0.758–1.130) | 1.997 (1.378–2.895) |
| Transient tachypnoea of the newborn | 424 (23.6%) | 156 (21.8%) | 210 (22.9%) | 58 (34.5%) | 0.002ab | 0.930 (0.734–1.178) | 1.801 (1.261–2.571) |
| Ventilator support | 238 (13.2%) | 103 (14.4%) | 103 (11.2%) | 32 (19.0%) | 0.011a | 1.306 (0.973–1.754) | 1.843 (1.187–2.861) |
| Continuous positive airway pressure | 404 (22.4%) | 138 (19.3%) | 214 (23.4%) | 52 (31.0%) | 0.003ab | 0.786 (0.617–1.002) | 1.443 (1.003–2.075) |
| Positive pressure ventilation | 235 (13.1%) | 95 (13.3%) | 107 (11.7%) | 33 (19.6%) | 0.019a | 1.185 (0.880–1.596) | 1.831 (1.185–2.829) |
| Intermediate care unit admission | 1258 (69.9%) | 518 (72.3%) | 648 (70.7%) | 92 (54.8%) | < 0.001ab | 1.076 (0.864–1.339) | 0.516 (0.368–0.725) |
| Neonatal intensive care unit admission | 411 (22.8%) | 150 (20.9%) | 203 (22.2%) | 58 (34.5%) | 0.001ab | 0.947 (0.745–1.204) | 1.822 (1.275–2.604) |
| Respiratory distress syndrome | 95 (5.3%) | 42 (5.9%) | 40 (4.4%) | 13 (7.7%) | 0.132 | 1.347 (0.861–2.106) | 1.751 (0.910–3.366) |
| Persistent tachypnoea of the newborn | 1 (0.1%) | 1 (0.1%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0.469 | – | – |
| Length of hospital stay (days) | 7 (1–179) | 6 (1–179) | 7 (1–179) | 14 (1–179) | < 0.001abc | – | – |
| Mean neonatal weight (grams) | 2208.5 ± 559.9 | 2305.5 ± 571.2 | 2181.7 ± 544.6 | 1942.4 ± 489.5 | < 0.001abc | – | – |
| Maternal | |||||||
| Gestational age at delivery (weeks of gestation) | 34.4 ± 2.1 | 34.7 ± 2.0 | 34.4 ± 2.1 | 33.4 ± 2.0 | < 0.001abc | – | – |
| Underlying disease | |||||||
| Diabetes mellitus (DM) | 29 (1.6%) | 11 (1.5%) | 15 (1.6%) | 3 (1.8%) | 0.970 | 0.937 (0.428–2.053) | 1.092 (0.313–3.814) |
| Hypertension | 107 (5.9%) | 37 (5.2%) | 50 (5.5%) | 20 (11.9%) | 0.003ab | 0.944 (0.610–1.461) | 2.341 (1.354–4.045) |
| Others | 173 (9.6%) | 60 (8.4%) | 90 (9.8%) | 23 (13.7%) | 0.105 | 0.839 (0.596–1.182) | 1.456 (0.891–2.378) |
| Length of hospital stay | 6 (2–143) | 4.5 (2–31) | 7 (2–57) | 14.5 (2–143) | < 0.001abc | – | – |
| Puerperal infection | 13 (0.7%) | 5 (0.7%) | 6 (0.7%) | 2 (1.2%) | 0.749 | 1.067 (0.324–3.509) | 1.827 (0.366–9.131) |
| Referral to other centres | 36 (2.0%) | 9 (1.3%) | 20 (2.2%) | 7 (4.2%) | 0.045b | 0.570 (0.258–1.260) | 1.948 (0.810–4.682) |
Chi-square test with multiple comparison by Bonferroni correction was used to compare the categorical outcome between groups
Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s test correction for multiple comparison was used to compare the non-normally distributed continuous data between groups
One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison was used to compare the normally distributed continuous data between groups
Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to examine the association between steroid groups and adverse outcomes after adjusting for covariate (maternal age, BMI, morbidities)
aStatistically significant between 2 and 3
bStatistically significant between 1 and 3
cStatistically significant between 1 and 2