Biomaterial Database

Antenatal steroids, condition at birth and respiratory morbidity and mortality in very preterm infants. 1998

L Ee, and R Hagan, and S Evans, and N French

Department of Neonatal Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, Perth, Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE To investigate (1) perinatal factors affecting condition at birth in very preterm infants (23-32 weeks) and (2) the relationship between poor condition at birth and neonatal respiratory morbidity and mortality. METHODS Convenience sample (n = 479) drawn from a geographic population inception cohort. RESULTS Antenatal steroid use reduced the risk of pH < or = 7.20 [Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.29 (95% CI 0.17, 0.50)], one minute Apgar < 4 [0.54 (0.33, 0.88)], and 5 min Apgar < 7 [0.44 (0.23, 0.84)]. Gestational age was significantly related to Apgar score but not cord arterial acid-base status. No other perinatal factor was significant. Poor condition at birth was associated with an increase in the incidence and severity of hyaline membrane disease and death. These effects were lessened in those exposed to steroids. CONCLUSIONS Antenatal steroid use is associated with improved condition at birth and reduces the deleterious effects of poor condition at birth on early respiratory morbidity and mortality.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007234	Infant, Premature	A human infant born before 37 weeks of GESTATION.	Neonatal Prematurity,Premature Infants,Preterm Infants,Infant, Preterm,Infants, Premature,Infants, Preterm,Premature Infant,Prematurity, Neonatal,Preterm Infant
D008297	Male		Males
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248	Pregnancy Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases.	Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D011295	Prenatal Care	Care provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal and prenatal mortality.	Antenatal Care,Care, Antenatal,Care, Prenatal
D011297	Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects	The consequences of exposing the FETUS in utero to certain factors, such as NUTRITION PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS; DRUGS; RADIATION; and other physical or chemical factors. These consequences are observed later in the offspring after BIRTH.	Delayed Effects, Prenatal Exposure,Late Effects, Prenatal Exposure
D012120	Respiration Disorders	Diseases of the respiratory system in general or unspecified or for a specific respiratory disease not available.	Disorder, Respiration,Disorders, Respiration,Respiration Disorder
D001784	Blood Gas Analysis	Measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.	Analysis, Blood Gas,Analyses, Blood Gas,Blood Gas Analyses,Gas Analyses, Blood,Gas Analysis, Blood
D005260	Female		Females