Effect of Systemic Hydrocortisone in Ventilated Infants Born Preterm: Mortality and 5.5-Year Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective To examine neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5.5 years of corrected age in children included in the Systemic hydrocortisone (HC) To Prevent Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in preterm infants (SToP-BPD) study, and to investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and mortality with HC treatment started between 7 and 14 days after birth compared with placebo in infants born preterm who required mechanical ventilation. Study design Data at 5.5 years of corrected age on cognitive, motor and neurosensory functioning, behavior, schooling, and general health outcomes were derived from regular follow-up visits. The primary outcome was death or moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI, complete case analysis), with NDI defined as a disability in at least 1 of the domains of cognition, motor development, vision, or hearing. Other outcomes included neurologic and behavioral assessments as well as parent reports of service use and school function. Results NDI was assessed in 213 of the 277 (77%) surviving children. Children attending follow-up were more likely to have highly educated or nonsmoking parents and had better neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of corrected age than nonattending children. Baseline characteristics of assessed children were comparable between treatment arms. No significant difference was found on the primary outcome (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.49-1.14; P = .18). All developmental outcomes were comparable between the HC and placebo group. Conclusions Treatment with HC started between 7 and 14 days after birth in infants born preterm at risk of BPD did not affect death or moderate-severe NDI nor any of the separate developmental outcome measures at 5.5 years of corrected age. Trial registration 2010-023777-19; https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu