Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part C (2025)

Objective: To evaluate the short-term outcome of neonates born late preterm and admitted to NICU receiving antenatal corticosteroids in contrast to no intervention.

Study design: This was a Retrospective observational study of neonates born between 34^0/7 to 36^6/7 admitted to Neonatal intensive care for prematurity. Short term neonatal outcomes of corticosteroid group were compared with the non-exposed neonates.

Results: During this 18-month study period, 174 subjects admitted to the NICU were enrolled. Among this, 72 were exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and 102 were the non-exposed group. The demographic data among the exposed and non-exposed antenatal corticosteroid groups were identical. The respiratory support was statistically significant in the exposed group for 30 subjects (41.67%) compared to non-exposed group 62 subjects (60.78%) with significant P value. The duration of the stay in NICU among the exposed group had a mean of 80.88 hours compared to non-exposed group with a mean of 114.96 hours. The statistical significance with P value was <0.05. There was no statistical significance among exposed and non-exposed groups with regards to surfactant therapy, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia. However, among the gestational age analysis with regards to respiratory support, 34 weeks LPN had significant P value in the exposed group compared to non- exposed group.

Conclusion: Short term outcomes of antenatal corticosteroid exposed group appear to reduce respiratory morbidity, less duration of stay. There is no difference with regards to Hyperbilirubinemia, Hypoglycemia and sepsis.