Perinatal and neonatal data of the study population
| Gestational age (w), mean (SD) | 26.38 (1.18) |
| Birth weight (g), mean (SD) | 854 (206) |
| Male, n (%) | 36 (54) |
| Multiple, n (%) | 13 (19) |
| Apgar score ≤5 at 5 min, n (%) | 11 (16) |
| Antenatal steroids, n (%) | 49 (73) |
| Chorioamnionitis, n (%) | 6 (9) |
| Rupture of membranes, >24 h before labour n (%) | 21 (31) |
| Surfactant administered*, n (%) | 52 (78) |
| Mechanical ventilation*, n (%) | 46 (69) |
| Treatment for patent ductus arteriosus*, n (%) | 13 (19) |
| Necrotising enterocolitis†, n (%) | 9 (13) |
| Retinopathy of prematurity‡, n (%) | 12 (18) |
| Severe brain injury§, n (%) | 9 (14) |
| Periventricular haemorrhagic infarction | 6 (9) |
| Grade 3 intraventricular haemorrhage | 2 (3) |
| Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation | 3 (4.6) |
| Lenticulostriatal stroke | 1 (1.5) |
| Death before discharge, n (%) | 7 (10) |
*Refers to the intervention period (first 72 h from birth).
†Modified Bell's stage 2 or 3.13
‡Stage 3 or worse on international classification.14
§Overall cranial ultrasound score reflecting the worst of the serial scans from birth to discharge or death.