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Patterns of antenatal corticosteroid prescribing 1998-2004
Alex Polyakov1, Saul Cohen, Marita Baum
1Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
|January 31, 2007
Summary
Antenatal corticosteroids are increasingly given to women delivering after 34 weeks, not just those at risk of preterm birth. The long-term effects of this practice remain unclear.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Antenatal corticosteroids are crucial for women at risk of preterm birth.
- Current practices may lead to administration in women delivering at term.
- Quantification of this exposure has been lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document antenatal corticosteroid prescribing patterns over seven years.
- To analyze trends in corticosteroid use based on gestational age at birth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an electronic birthing outcome system and manual record review.
- Included women delivering before 34 weeks and those admitted before 34 weeks but delivering after.
- Analyzed trends using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Overall antenatal corticosteroid use has increased.
- Proportion of women delivering between 24-35 weeks receiving corticosteroids increased modestly (12%/year).
- Women delivering after 34 weeks receiving corticosteroids increased significantly (21%/year).
Conclusions:
- More women delivering after 34 weeks are receiving antenatal corticosteroids.
- The long-term health implications of this trend are currently unknown.
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