Outcome characteristics in group 1 and 2 infants
| Characteristics | Group 1 (No/incomplete course) (n=71) | Group 2 (Complete course of steroids) (n=153) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Values in parentheses are percentages. | |||
| PDA, Patent ductus arteriosus; NEC, necrotising enterocolitis; ROP, retrolental fibroplasia; SEH, subependymal haemorrhage; IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage. | |||
| O2 dependence at 28 days | 19/30 (63) | 54/87 (62) | 1.0 |
| O2 dependence at 36 weeks | 9/22 (41) | 23/61 (38) | 0.80 |
| Surfactant (dose per infant) | 1.58 | 1.55 | 0.86 |
| 25 weeks or less | 43/20 (2.15) | 76/35 (2.17) | |
| 26–28 weeks | 27/15 (1.80) | 107/61 (1.75) | |
| 29 weeks or more | 42/36 (1.17) | 54/57 (0.95) | |
| PDA | 18 (25) | 30 (20) | 0.38 |
| NEC | 8 (11) | 19 (12) | 1.0 |
| ROP | 3 (12) had laser therapy of 26 screened | 5 (7) had laser therapy of 67 screened | 0.68 |
| Sepsis | 29 (41) | 64 (42) | 1.0 |
| Mortality | 20 (28) | 30 (20) | 0.17 |
| Cranial ultrasound scans | (1 not done) | ||
| Normal/SEH/IVH | 49 (69) | 123 (81) | |
| Ventriculomegaly | 4 (6) | 9 (6) | |
| White matter lesions | 18 (25) | 20 (13) | 0.03 |
| Survivors with white matter lesions | 7/51 (14) | 15/123 (12) | 0.81 |