Patient characteristics
| MgSO4 for fetal neuroprotection (n=1387) | No MgSO4 (n=3868) | Difference (95% CI) | p Value* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age, weeks, mean (SD) | 28.0 (2.3) | 28.3 (2.3) | −0.3 (−0.5 to −0.2) | <0.01 |
| Birth weight, g, mean (SD) | 1160 (374) | 1232 (402) | −72 (−95 to −48) | <0.01 |
| Birth weight <1000 g, n (%) | 526 (37.9) | 1207 (31.2) | 6.7 (3.8 to 9.2) | <0.01 |
| Birth weight <1500 g, n (%) | 1113 (80.2) | 2845 (73.6) | 6.6 (4.1 to 9.2) | <0.01 |
| GA group, n (%) | <0.01 | |||
| 22–28 weeks | 731 (52.7) | 1813 (46.9) | 5.8 (2.8 to 8.9) | |
| 29–31 weeks | 656 (47.3) | 2055 (53.1) | −5.8 (−8.9 to −2.8) | |
| Female, n (%) | 623 (44.9) | 1709 (44.2) | 0.7 (−3.8 to 2.3) | 0.64 |
| SGA (BW <10%), n (%) | 147 (10.6) | 273 (7.1) | 3.5 (1.7 to 5.4) | <0.01 |
| Outborn, n (%) | 81 (5.8) | 714 (18.5) | −12.7 (−14.0 to −11.0) | <0.01 |
| Chorioamnionitis, n (%) | 265 (23.3) | 569 (20.8) | 2.4 (−0.5 to 5.3) | 0.09 |
| Caesarean, n (%) | 766 (55.3) | 2196 (56.9) | −1.6 (−4.7 to 1.4) | 0.29 |
| Antenatal corticosteroids, n (%) | 1342 (97.1) | 3170 (83.4) | 13.7 (12.3 to 15.2) | <0.01 |
| Maternal hypertension, n (%) | 257 (18.8) | 405 (10.6) | 8.2 (5.9 to 10.5) | <0.01 |
| Multiple gestation, n (%) | 429 (30.9) | 1166 (30.1) | 0.8 (−2.0 to 3.6) | 0.58 |
| ROM | 0.13 | |||
| <24 h | 1063 (78.2) | 2860 (76.7) | 1.5 (−1.1 to 4.1) | |
| 24 h–1 week | 175 (12.9) | 463 (12.4) | 0.5 (−1.6 to 2.5) | |
| >1 weeks | 121 (8.9) | 404 (10.8) | −1.9 (−3.8 to 0.1) | |
| Infants GA established in first trimester†, n (%) | 835 (60.2) | 1896 (49.0) | 11.2 (8.2 to 14.2) | <0.01 |
*χ2 test for categorical variables and t test or Wilcoxon Rank test, as appropriate, for continuous variables, were used for the comparisons.
†By in vitro fertilisation, early ultrasound or last menstrual period.
BW, birth weight; GA, gestational age; MgSO4, magnesium sulfate; ROM, rupture of membranes; SGA, small for gestational age.