{"title":"Outcomes in extremely preterm neonates after the introduction of early low-dose hydrocortisone treatment: A retrospective case-control study","authors":"Ellie Purcell , Pooja Sachdev , Dushyant Batra","doi":"10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2025.106463","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Assess the association between use of early low-dose hydrocortisone (ELDH) in extremely preterm neonates, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)-free survival at 36 weeks completed gestational age (CGA), as well as additional secondary outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective, matched, case-control study.</div></div><div><h3>Setting</h3><div>Tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital).</div></div><div><h3>Patients</h3><div>188 extremely preterm neonates. 94 historical controls born between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2019. 94 cases born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021.</div></div><div><h3>Interventions</h3><div>ELDH using the published PREMILOC study protocol (total dose of 8.5 mg/kg over 10 days) initiated within the first 24 h of life.</div></div><div><h3>Primary outcome measure</h3><div>Survival without BPD at 36 weeks CGA.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were no statistically significant associations between the sex, gestational age or birthweight of the groups. There was no significant association between the use of ELDH and increased survival without BPD at 36 weeks CGA (<em>p</em> = 0.153) or reduction in mortality (<em>p</em> = 0.814). Using ELDH was significantly associated with an increased incidence of culture positive late-onset sepsis (<em>p</em> = 0.006), higher non-invasive respiratory support days (<em>p</em> = 0.032) and a longer total length of stay (<em>p</em> = 0.004).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>ELDH use was not associated with an improvement in BPD free survival in extremely preterm neonates. The cases had a higher incidence of culture positive late-onset sepsis and longer duration of respiratory support. Further research exploring stratification of preterm neonates that will benefit from ELDH is needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11435,"journal":{"name":"Early human development","volume":"214 ","pages":"Article 106463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Early human development","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378378225002737","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/18 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
Assess the association between use of early low-dose hydrocortisone (ELDH) in extremely preterm neonates, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)-free survival at 36 weeks completed gestational age (CGA), as well as additional secondary outcomes.
Design
Retrospective, matched, case-control study.
Setting
Tertiary neonatal intensive care units in Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital).
Patients
188 extremely preterm neonates. 94 historical controls born between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2019. 94 cases born between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021.
Interventions
ELDH using the published PREMILOC study protocol (total dose of 8.5 mg/kg over 10 days) initiated within the first 24 h of life.
Primary outcome measure
Survival without BPD at 36 weeks CGA.
Results
There were no statistically significant associations between the sex, gestational age or birthweight of the groups. There was no significant association between the use of ELDH and increased survival without BPD at 36 weeks CGA (p = 0.153) or reduction in mortality (p = 0.814). Using ELDH was significantly associated with an increased incidence of culture positive late-onset sepsis (p = 0.006), higher non-invasive respiratory support days (p = 0.032) and a longer total length of stay (p = 0.004).
Conclusions
ELDH use was not associated with an improvement in BPD free survival in extremely preterm neonates. The cases had a higher incidence of culture positive late-onset sepsis and longer duration of respiratory support. Further research exploring stratification of preterm neonates that will benefit from ELDH is needed.
期刊介绍:
Established as an authoritative, highly cited voice on early human development, Early Human Development provides a unique opportunity for researchers and clinicians to bridge the communication gap between disciplines. Creating a forum for the productive exchange of ideas concerning early human growth and development, the journal publishes original research and clinical papers with particular emphasis on the continuum between fetal life and the perinatal period; aspects of postnatal growth influenced by early events; and the safeguarding of the quality of human survival.
The first comprehensive and interdisciplinary journal in this area of growing importance, Early Human Development offers pertinent contributions to the following subject areas:
Fetology; perinatology; pediatrics; growth and development; obstetrics; reproduction and fertility; epidemiology; behavioural sciences; nutrition and metabolism; teratology; neurology; brain biology; developmental psychology and screening.