Abstract
Objective
To explore associations between epidural administration to mothers in labor with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years corrected age in preterm infants born <29 weeks gestational age.
Study design
Infants born <29 weeks gestational age between 2006 and 2012 were included. Our primary outcome was a composite of death or neurodevelopmental impairment at 3 years corrected age. Infants were divided into those whose mothers did or did not receive epidural analgesia in labor. Univariable and multivariable regression was used for analysis.
Results
There were 548 infants in the no epidural analgesia group and 121 in the epidural analgesia group. The adjusted odds ratio (95%CI) of neurodevelopmental impairment or death in the epidural group was 1.25 (0.82–1.93). Propensity score-matched results were 1.32 (0.79–2.22).
Conclusion
Preterm infants born <29 weeks gestational age to mothers who received epidural analgesia during labor were not associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years corrected age.
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Data availability
In accordance with the Alberta Health Services Data Disclosure Agreement, we are not able to provide or make the data available for any purpose to a third party without the prior written consent of Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta. Custom generated R Studio code used for data analysis is available upon reasonable request to the authors.
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Funding
Findings were presented in part at the 46th American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, District 8 Conference, San Diego, California, June 1–4, 2023.
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Mr. Arijit Lodha drafted the initial version of the manuscript and was involved in the critical review and revision of the manuscript. Dr. J J Moser, Dr. A Lodha and Dr. D McAllister conceptualized and designed the study and were involved in the acquisition and interpretation of the data and the critical review and revision of the manuscript. Dr. Walker was involved in data acquisition, statistical analysis and interpretation of the data and the critical review and revision of the manuscript.Ms. Selphee Tang was involved in the acquisition and interpretation of the data and critical review and revision of the manuscript.
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Lodha, A., Moser, J.J., Walker, A. et al. Association of epidural analgesia in labor with neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature infants born at <29 weeks of gestational age. J Perinatol 44, 548–553 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01893-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01893-8