Effect of antenatal corticosteroid on early neonatal outcome in preterm neonates: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the most common complication observed in preterm neonates. It has been observed in many studies done till date that neonates born to mothers who have received antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) have shown significantly lesser incidence in developing RDS as compared to neonates born to mothers who have not received ACS. The aim of the present study is to observe and compare the outcome of the neonates born to the mothers who have received and not received ACS between 24 weeks + 0 days to 36 weeks + 6 days of gestation.Methods: This was a hospital based prospective observational study, consisting of 201 neonates born to the mothers who have received and not received ACS between 24 weeks + 0 days and 36 weeks + 6 days of gestation. The outcome of neonates was observed and the data was analyzed by using frequency percentage and pearson’s chi square test.Results: Two hundred and one neonates were included in our study. It was concluded that the need of surfactant (P=0.004), CPAP (P=0.001) was significantly less and the rate of survival (P=0.000) was better in babies born to mothers who have received ACS in comparison to neonates born to mothers who have not received ACS. Conclusions: It was observed that in neonates there was significantly lesser incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, use of surfactant, CPAP, ventilation and number of deaths. But there was no significant statistical difference in incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and PDA as compared to neonates born to mothers who have not received ACS. Hence it will require further study and analysis in a larger population.