Two-year outcomes after dextrose gel prophylaxis for neonatal hypoglycaemia

Area of Science:

• Neonatal medicine
• Developmental pediatrics
• Clinical trials

Background:

• Neonatal hypoglycemia is a common concern in newborns.
• Early interventions are crucial for optimal infant neurodevelopment.
• Dextrose gel is used to prevent and treat neonatal hypoglycemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term neurodevelopmental and executive function outcomes at 2 years corrected age in infants who received prophylactic dextrose gel.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of different dextrose gel dosages.

Main Methods:

• Prospective follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (pre-hPOD trial).
• Participants received buccal 40% dextrose gel or placebo in four different dose regimens.
• Neurodevelopment and executive function were assessed at 2 years corrected age.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in neurosensory impairment or executive function between dextrose gel and placebo groups.
• No differences were observed in secondary outcomes, including neurology and anthropometry.
• Infants who did or did not develop neonatal hypoglycemia showed no difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Prophylactic dextrose gel did not alter neurodevelopment or executive function at 2 years corrected age.
• The intervention showed no adverse effects up to 2 years corrected age.
• The study was underpowered to detect clinically significant effects on neurosensory outcomes.