Clinical demographics and characteristics of all the infants by outcome
| All infants (n=57) Median (IQR) | Normal outcome (n=40) Median (IQR) | Abnormal outcome (n=17) Median (IQR) | P value* | |
| GA (weeks) | 28.9 (26.5–30.4) | 29.0 (26.6–30.5) | 28.6 (26.4–29.9) | 0.447 |
| BW (g) | 1160 (850–1445) | 1185 (890–1563) | 1140 (625–1335) | 0.084 |
| Apgar score 1 min | 7 (5–8) | 7 (5–8) | 6 (4–8) | 0.052 |
| Apgar score 5 min | 8 (7–9) | 9 (7–9) | 8 (7–9) | 0.056 |
| CRIB II | 7 (4–10) | 7 (3–10) | 8 (4–12) | 0.363 |
| Initial pH | 7.23 (7.19–7.29) | 7.23 (7.18–7.28) | 7.24 (7.18–7.34) | 0.427 |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | P value† | |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 35 (61) | 25 (63) | 10 (59) | 1 |
| IUGR | 8 (14) | 3 (8) | 5 (29) | 0.043 |
| Neuroimaging | ||||
| Normal | 34 (60) | 23 (58) | 11 (65) | 0.089 |
| IVH grade 1/2 | 16 (28) | 14 (35) | 2 (12) | |
| IVH grade 3/4 | 6 (11) | 3 (8) | 3 (18) | |
| cPVL | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (6) | |
| Complications | ||||
| Sepsis | 27 (47) | 16 (40) | 11 (65) | 0.146 |
| Necrotising enterocolitis | 10 (18) | 7 (18) | 3 (18) | 1 |
| Chronic lung disease | 19 (33) | 13 (33) | 6 (35) | 1 |
| Retinopathy of prematurity | 2 (4) | 1 (3) | 1 (6) | 0.511 |
| Medication | ||||
| AEDs | 2 (4) | 1 (3) | 1 (6) | 0.511 |
| Morphine | 4 (25) | 8 (20) | 6 (35) | 0.314 |
*Mann-Whitney U test.
†Fisher’s exact test.
AEDs, antiepileptic drugs (first-line AED of choice, administered intravenously as a loading dose of 20 mg/kg); BW, birth weight; cPVL, cystic periventricular leukomalacia; CRIB II, Clinical Risk Index for Babies II; GA, gestational age; IUGR, intrauterine growth restriction; IVH, intraventricular haemorrhage.