Patient demographics
| Dexamethasone | Budesonide | Difference in the means (95% CI) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data are presented as mean (SD). | ||||
| n | 8 | 8 | ||
| Gestational age (weeks) | 27 (1.7) | 26.6 (1.2) | 0.8 (−0.8 to 2.4) | ns |
| Birth weight (g) | 919 (200) | 845 (158) | 74 (−126 to 274) | ns |
| At study entry: | ||||
| Postconceptional age (weeks) | 33 (4) | 33 (4) | 0 (−4.6to 3.9) | ns |
| Weight (g) | 1263 (490) | 1274 (413) | −11 (−498 to 476) | ns |
| Inspired oxygen concentration (%) | 37.5 (10.4) | 29.4 (5.0) | 8.1 (−0.6 to 16.8) | ns |
| Prior to the study: | ||||
| Weight gain (g/kg/day) | 6 (3.7) | 5.1 (7.6) | 0.9 (−5.5 to 7.2) | ns |
| LLLvel (mm/day) | 0.32 (0.12) | 0.30 (0.15) | 0.02 (−0.12 to 0.16) | ns |
| Energy intake (kcal/kg/day) | 104 (29) | 124 (41) | −20 (−52 to 11) | ns |
| At the end of the study period: | ||||
| Postconceptional age (weeks) | 34 (4.5) | 34 (4) | 0 (−4.5 to 4.5) | ns |
| Weight (g) | 1340 (471) | 1407 (390) | −67 (−530 to 396) | ns |
| Weight gain (g/kg/day) | 5.8 (6.4) | 12.7 (9.2) | −7.0 (−15.5 to 1.5) | ns |
| LLLvel (mm/day) | −0.01 (0.13) | 0.48 (0.30) | −0.48 (−0.73 to −0.24) | 0.0009 |
| Inspired oxygen concentration (%) | 23.4 (3.0) | 29.5 (10.7) | −6.1 (−14.6 to 2.3) | ns |
| Energy intake (kcal/kg/day) during the study period | 118 (26) | 122 (18) | −4 (−28 to 19) | ns |