Gestational age (weeks) | 26.4 (24.9–28.3) | 29.1 (27.8–30.6)** |
Birth weight (g) | 860 (706–1148) | 1168 (1034–1329)** |
Sex (M/F) | 27 (60%):18 (40%) | 45 (49%):47 (51%) |
Mode of delivery (caesarean section: instrumental:normal) | 17 (38%):0 (0%):28 (62%) | 61 (66%):1 (1%):30 (33%)** |
Birth order (singleton:twins:triplets) | 40 (89%):4 (9%):1 (2%) | 70 (76%):20 (22%):2 (2%) |
Inborn:outborn | 44 (98%):1 (2%) | 89 (97%):3 (3%) |
Prolonged rupture membrane >24 hours | 10 (22%) | 18 (20%) |
Pre-eclampsia | 3 (7%) | 15 (16%) |
Antepartum haemorrhage | 7 (16%) | 15 (16%) |
Apgar scores |
1 min | 5 (4–7) | 7 (5–8)** |
5 min | 8 (7–9) | 9 (8–9)* |
Antenatal dexamethasone |
Cumulative doses (mg) | 20 (0–40) | 20 (20–38) |
Time between last dose and delivery (h) | 30 (5–50) | 13 (4–52) |
Respiratory indices and outcomes |
CRIB score | 5 (2–10) | 2 (1–4)** |
OI (first 12 hours) | 7.7 (4.1–12.3) | 4.7 (2.0–10.0)* |
A-aDo2 gradient (first 12 hours) | 250 (125–373) | 123 (47–261)** |
Mechanical ventilation (day 7):no ventilation and CPAP v IPPV and HFOV | 16 (36%):29 (64%) | 63 (68%):29 (32%)** |
Duration of mechanical ventilation (days) | 34 (20–70) | 16 (7–34)** |
Duration of oxygen supplementation (days) | 43 (28–87) | 9 (3–18)** |
PIPmax (first 14 days) | 23 (20–25) | 20 (18–24)** |
Pawmax (first 14 days) | 12 (10–15) | 10 (8–13)** |
Fio2max (first 14 days) | 0.90 (0.79–1.00) | 0.50 (0.36–0.64)** |
Postnatal corticosteroids | 31 (69%) | 12 (13%)** |
Pneumothorax | 7 (16%) | 0 (0%)** |
PIE | 12 (27%) | 2 (2%)** |
Pulmonary haemorrhage | 1 (2%) | 2 (2%) |
Duration of hospital stay (days) | 124 (74–155) | 85 (66–103)** |
Died | 18 (40%) | 0 (0%)** |