The effect of antenatal betamethasone on prevent respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants

ABSTRACT

A retrospective controlled cohort analysis of live-born singleton neonates prematurely born before 34 weeks’gestation was conducted in Tu Du Maternity Hospital in HCMC from January 2000 to December 2000. 217 premature infants were devided into 2 groups group 1 80 infants, whose mother taking prenatal betamethasone and group 2 137 infants, whose mother without taking prenatal betamethasone. Data were analyzed with the T test, the Chi square test and Fisher exact test. Relative risk, 95% confident interval, other maternal and infant factors were calculated for betamethasone use. The results: the independent variables, which included maternal demographic, maternal clinical risk, infant characteristics were controlled. There were a significant statistical difference for Respiratory distress syndrome incidence of infants between 2 groups. Mean duration of ventilator and mean duration of neonatal hospital care were statistically different. All other short term side effects analyzed were similar between 2 groups