A Cochrane review included 30 studies with a total of 7 774 women and 8 158 infants. Treatment with antenatal corticosteroids is associated with an overall reduction in neonatal death , respiratory distress syndrome, cerebroventricular haemorrhage, necrotising enterocolitis, respiratory support, intensive care admissions, and systemic infections in the first 48 hours of life. It did not increase risk to the mother of death (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.06 to 15.50, n=3392) , chorioamnionitis (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.06, n=5546) or endometritis (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.63, n=4030).
| Outcome | Relative effect (95% CI) | Risk with control - Placebo or no treatment | Risk with intervention - Corticosteroids (95% CI) | № of participants (studies) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perinatal deaths | RR 0.72 (0.58 to 0.89) | 102 per 1000 | 73 per 1000 (59 to 91) | 6729 (15) |
| Respiratory distress syndrome | RR 0.66 (0.56 to 0.77) | 176 per 1000 | 116 per 1000 (98 to 135) | 7764 (28) |
| Intraventricular haemorrhage | RR 0.55 (0.40 to 0.76) | 51 per 1000 | 28 per 1000 (20 to 39) | 6093 (16) |
| Mean birthweight (grams) | - | The mean birthweight was 18.47g less (40.83g less to 3.90g more) | 6182 (16) | |