Association between antenatal steroids for lung maturation and hypoglycaemia in the first 48 hours in premature infants between 26 and 34 weeks of gestational age

Abstract

Introduction: Hypoglycaemia is frequent in premature infants and can generate neurological alterations. There is controversy concerning exposure to antenatal corticosteroids for pulmonary maturation and hypoglycaemia. Aim of the study: To evaluate whether there is a relationship between neonatal hypoglycaemia and the use of antenatal corticosteroids for lung maturation in preterm infants between 26 and 34 weeks of gestational age, and to correlate this with other variables. Material and methods: A prospective closed cohort study in preterm infants between 26 and 34 weeks of gestation, who were born in the University Hospital of Santander (HUS) between 2017 and 2018, divided into two cohorts: Exposed and not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids for lung maturation. The data was analysed using Stata 12.0 Software. Results: Of 173 preterm infants, 152 (87.9%) received lung maturation. There were no significant differences between the maternal characteristics of both cohorts. In the neonatal group, sex, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, and glucose infusion rate were evaluated without significant differences. The cumulative incidence of hypoglycaemia in the first 48 hours was 28.6% in those not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and 25.4% among the exposed ones (RR 0.875, IC95% 0.421-1.815), while the incidence density of hypoglycaemia was 8.80 and 6.36 events/1000 person-hours, respectively (HR 0.743 95% CI: 0.314-1.759). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypoglycaemia among those exposed and those not exposed to antenatal steroids for lung maturation in this study.