Irish Child Health Database - Peer Reviewed Papers
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Randomized, controlled trial of dexamethasone in neonatal chronic lung disease: 13- to 17-year follow-up study: II. Respiratory status, growth, and blood pressure
Published in:
Pediatrics, Vol: 116, Page: 379-84
Publication Date:
August 2005
Aims & Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the growth, health status, and respiratory outcomes at 13 to 17 years of infants enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of dexamethasone for the treatment of neonatal chronic lung disease
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To study the growth, health status, and respiratory outcomes at 13 to 17 years of infants enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of dexamethasone for the treatment of neonatal chronic lung disease. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 287 infants who were chronically dependent on supplementary oxygen between 2 and 12 weeks of age were recruited from 31 centers in 6 countries to a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of dexamethasone base (0.5 mg/kg per day for 1 week) or placebo, and survivors were evaluated at 3 years. Children from the 25 British and Irish centers were traced for reassessment at 13 to 17 years of age. OUTCOME MEASURES: Respiratory symptoms, lung-function testing, height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure, health resource usage, and school absences. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in respiratory outcomes between the dexamethasone and placebo groups. Lung function was impaired but with no difference between the 2 groups. Growth was also impaired in both groups, with height z score of -0.7, weight z score of -0.4, and head circumference z score of -1.1. Systolic blood pressure was >95th percentile for age and height for 15% of children, but with no difference between the 2 groups. There was no difference in the numbers of hospital admissions for respiratory causes or other causes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a shorter duration of neonatal assisted ventilation, there is no evidence that dexamethasone use is associated with long-term improvement in lung function. Impaired growth and poor health status are long-term consequences of neonatal chronic lung disease, irrespective of exposure to neonatal dexamethasone.
Authors:
R. A. Jones
Study Type:
Study Papers » A randomized controlled trial » Descriptive Studies - Studies with a health technology dimension
Notes:
Collaborative Dexamethasone Trial Follow-up Group
Categories:
treatment of neonatal chronic lung disease
International Classification:
Evaluation of the effectiveness of treatments - neonatal chronic lung
Keywords:
- Adolescent
- Blood Pressure
- Chronic Disease
- Dexamethasone/adverse effects/ therapeutic use
- Follow-Up Studies
- GROWTH
- Growth Disorders/ etiology
- Health Status
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Lung Diseases/ complications/ drug therapy/physiopathology
- Pulmonary Ventilation
- Respiratory Function Tests
Geography:
Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK and Ireland)