CompletedNot Applicable

Higher-Dose Dexamethasone Improves Breathing and Shortens NICU Stay in Preterm Babies

Indonesia200 participantsStarted 2018-01-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this observational study was to compare two doses of dexamethasone given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. Dexamethasone is a medicine used before birth to help a baby's lungs mature. This study looked at preterm babies born between 26 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers compared babies whose mothers received dexamethasone 12 mg every 12 hours for 48 hours with babies whose mothers received dexamethasone 6 mg every 12 hours for 48 hours. The main questions this study aimed to answer were: * Did the higher dose of dexamethasone help preterm babies need breathing support for a shorter time? * Did the higher dose help shorten the babies' stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)? * Was the higher dose as safe as the lower dose for babies and mothers? Researchers reviewed medical records from Stella Maris Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2018 to January 2023. They looked at neonatal outcomes, including breathing support, respiratory distress syndrome, length of NICU stay, low blood sugar in babies, infection in mothers, and developmental problems at 24 months.

Who can participate

Age range

26 Weeks – 36 Weeks

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Preterm infants born to mothers with gestational age between 26 and 36 weeks * Infants whose mothers received antenatal dexamethasone for fetal lung maturation * Infants with complete medical records * Singleton or multiple gestations, including twins, triplets, or quadruplets Exclusion Criteria: * Stillbirths * Term infants * Preterm infants with known congenital anomalies * Preterm infants with known chromosomal abnormalities * Cases with preterm premature rupture of membranes

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Duration of Mechanical Ventilation Support

Timeframe: From initiation of mechanical ventilation until discontinuation of mechanical ventilation, assessed up to NICU discharge or 12 weeks after birth, whichever occurred first

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07765329

SponsorStella Maris Women and Children Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2023-01-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Premature Birth trials