Table 1

Demographic characteristics of study and control infants: numbers are given in mean (SEM)^‡ or ^†absolute numbers (%)

	Group 1 (fluticasone) n=27	Group 2 (placebo) n=26	p Value
Gestation (week)^‡	27.9 (0.5)	27.1 (0.5)	0.2751-150
Birthweight (g)^‡	993 (71)	981 (71)	0.9061-150
Complications of pregnancy ^†			0.186^**
Nil	17 (63.0)	23 (88.5)
Diabetes mellitus	4 (14.8)	1 (3.8)
Infection	2 (7.4)	1 (3.8)
Antepartum haemorrhage	4 (14.8)	1 (3.8)
Multiple pregnancy ^†			0.701^**
Twin	6 (22.2)	8 (30.8)
Triplet	2 (7.4)	1 (3.8)
Rupture of amniotic membrane
Duration (h)^‡	11.0 (1.3)	13.8 (2.5)	0.3301-150
Duration > 24 h^‡	0 (0.0)	3 (11.5)	0.111^**
Antenatal corticosteroid^†	15 (55.6)	13 (50.0)	0.897^**
Mode of delivery ^†			0.785^**
Spontaneous vaginal	12 (44.4)	11 (42.3)
Breech vaginal	3 (11.1)	3 (11.5)
Forceps	1 (3.7)	0 (0.0)
Caesaerean section	11 (40.7)	12 (46.2)
Apgar score at 5 min < 7^†	8 (29.6)	8 (30.8)	0.835^**
Peak inflation pressure at enrolment^‡	21.2 (0.8)	20.5 (0.6)	0.4631-150
PaO₂: alveolar PO₂ ratio at enrolment^‡	0.19 (0.01)	0.19 (0.01)	0.6301-150