Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Effect of Systemic Hydrocortisone in Ventilated Infants Born Preterm: Mortality and 5.5-Year Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial

  • SToP-BPD Trial Collaborators
  • University Medical Center Utrecht
  • Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital
  • Isala Medical Center, Zwolle, Netherlands
  • University of Groningen
  • Leiden University Medical Center
  • Máxima Medical Center
  • Department of Neonatology
  • Radboud University Medical Center
  • Maastricht University Medical Center
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

5 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5.5 years of corrected age in children included in the Systemic hydrocortisone (HC) To Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in preterm infants (SToP-BPD) study, and to investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and mortality with HC treatment started between 7 and 14 days after birth compared with placebo in infants born preterm who required mechanical ventilation.

STUDY DESIGN: Data at 5.5 years of corrected age on cognitive, motor and neurosensory functioning, behavior, schooling, and general health outcomes were derived from regular follow-up visits. The primary outcome was death or moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI, complete case analysis), with NDI defined as a disability in at least 1 of the domains of cognition, motor development, vision, or hearing. Other outcomes included neurologic and behavioral assessments as well as parent reports of service use and school function.

RESULTS: NDI was assessed in 213 of the 277 (77%) surviving children. Children attending follow-up were more likely to have highly educated or nonsmoking parents and had better neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age than nonattending children. Baseline characteristics of assessed children were comparable between treatment arms. No significant difference was found on the primary outcome (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.49-1.14; P = .18). All developmental outcomes were comparable between the HC and placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with HC started between 7 and 14 days after birth in infants born preterm at risk of BPD did not affect death or moderate-severe NDI nor any of the separate developmental outcome measures at 5.5 years of corrected age.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: 2010-023777-19; https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)114954
JournalJournal of pediatrics
Volume290
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 13 Dec 2025

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of Systemic Hydrocortisone in Ventilated Infants Born Preterm: Mortality and 5.5-Year Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this