Evaluation of antenatal corticosteroid prescribing patterns among 984 women at risk for preterm delivery
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Updated: May 10, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Merel Boesveld1, Karst Y Heida, Martijn A Oudijk
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands and.
Objective:
To evaluate the prescribing patterns of the first antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) course in our tertiary referral centre from 2005 until 2010.
Study Design:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all women who received ACS between 24(+0) and 34(+0) weeks of gestation. Main outcome measure was the number of women who delivered within 7 d after ACS administration. The time interval from administration to delivery was compared between women with different indications. Furthermore, all women delivering between 24(+0) and 34(+0) weeks of gestation who did not receive ACS were identified.
Results:
1008 women received ACS, 15 (1.5%) women were lost to follow up. Main indications were suspected preterm labour, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, maternal indication, foetal indication and vaginal blood loss (VBL). Overall, 447 (45.4%) women delivered ≤7 d after ACS administration. This percentage was 13.6% in women with VBL and 61.5% in women with maternal indication. During the study period, 1267 women delivered before 34 weeks of gestation, 126 (9.9%) women did not receive ACS.
Conclusions:
The time interval from ACS administration to delivery differs per indication. Women with VBL are most often over treated. The timing of the first ACS course should be improved.
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