Effect of Systemic Hydrocortisone Initiated 7 to 14 Days After Birth in Ventilated Preterm Infants on Mortality and Neurodevelopment at 2 Years’ Corrected Age
Nienke M. Halbmeijer, Wes Onland, Filip Cools, Renate Swarte, Marja van der Heide-Jalving, Maruschka P. Merkus, Anton H. van Kaam, STOP-BPD Trial Collaborators, Peter H. Dijk, Susanne Mulder-de Tollenaer, Ratna N.G.B. Tan, Thilo Mohns, Els Bruneel, Arno van Heijst, Boris W. Kramer, Anne Debeer, Mirjam M. van Weissenbruch, Yoann Marechal, Henry Blom, Katleen Plaskie, Martin Offringa, Aleid G. van Wassenaer‐Leemhuis, Debbie H. G. M. Nuytemans, Moniek van de Loo, Ingrid van Limberghen, André A. Kroon, Nienke Rietema, Annette van der Kaa, Patricia Kalkman, Karin Rademaker, Corine Koopman-Esseboom, Ingrid C. van Haastert, Ellen de Kort, Marieke Vervoorn, E Cavatorta, Anne Rassart, An Eerdekens, Isabelle Hermans, Julie Messiaen, Margriet van Stuijvenberg, R.P.H.M. Matthijsse, Willem de Boode, Wendy Jansen, Hendrik J. Niemarkt, Ilse van Hattum, Astrid Giezen, H L van Straaten, Arjan B. te Pas, Romy J. M. Berkhout, Claire Theyskens, Inge A. Zonnenberg, Elke Dierckx
Abstract
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy and safety of systemic hydrocortisone treatment initiated 7 to 14 days after birth in ventilatordependent, very preterm infants found no significant difference in the composite primary outcome of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. 1 However, a preplanned exploratory analysis found a reduced risk of death at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age in favor of hydrocortisone. We examined the prespecified follow-up of death and neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 2 years' corrected age.