Association between gestational age at birth, antenatal corticosteroids, and outcomes at 5 years: multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth study at 5 years of age (MACS-5)

• Published in: BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2014-08, Vol.14 (1), p.272-272, Article 272
• Main Authors: Asztalos, Elizabeth, Willan, Andrew, Murphy, Kellie, Matthews, Stephen, Ohlsson, Arne, Saigal, Saroj, Armson, Anthony, Kelly, Edmond, Delisle, Marie-France, Gafni, Amiram, Lee, Shoo, Sananes, Renee, Rovet, Joanne, Guselle, Patricia, Amankwah, Kofi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Betamethasone - administration & dosage; Betamethasone - adverse effects; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Developmental Disabilities - etiology; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Dexamethasone - adverse effects; Double-Blind Method; Follow-Up Studies; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature, Diseases - mortality; Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control; Medical research; Perinatal Care; Premature birth; Premature Birth - drug therapy; Respiratory distress syndrome; Sensation Disorders - etiology; Survival Rate; Term Birth; Time Factors; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2393; 1471-2393
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-14-272

The Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study (MACS) showed no benefit in the reduction of major neonatal mortality/morbidity or neurodevelopment at 2 and 5 years of age. Using the data from the randomized controlled trial and its follow-up, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between gestational ages at birth in children exposed to single versus multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) therapy in utero and outcomes at 5 years of age. A total of 1719 children, with the breakdown into groupings of