Variations in antenatal corticosteroid therapy: a persistent problem despite 30 years of evidence

To document current use of antenatal corticosteroid therapy in a large cohort of Canadian preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units, and to assess the impact of variations in use on neonatal outcomes.

The study subjects included 11,440 infants less than 38 weeks' gestation who were admitted to 17 Canadian Neonatal Network intensive care units from January 1996 to October 1997. Data analyses were conducted separately for infants less than 24 weeks' gestation, 24-34 weeks' gestation, and over 34 weeks' gestation. Logistic regression analysis was used to model the examined relationships, controlling for patient characteristics.

The incidence of antenatal corticosteroid treatment was 42% for infants less than 24 weeks' gestation, 59% for infants 24-34 weeks' gestation, and 10% for infants over 34 weeks' gestation. Antenatal corticosteroid treatment was associated with reduced risk for neonatal mortality and respiratory distress syndrome, but not for infants over 34 weeks' gestation. Significant institutional variations in antenatal corticosteroid use were present among both inborn and outborn infants. Increased antenatal corticosteroid treatment for infants 24-34 weeks' gestation can potentially reduce the number of neonatal deaths by 41 cases (10%) and respiratory distress syndrome by 90 cases (3%) among participating hospitals.

Wide institutional differences persist in the incidence of antenatal corticosteroid treatment for women expected to give birth preterm. Increased use of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm deliveries can reduce neonatal mortality in Canada by up to 10%.