EFFECT OF ANTENATAL CORTICOSTEROIDS ON NICU ADMISSIONS IN PRETERM NEONATES: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Preterm birth remains the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. While antenatal corticosteroids (ANC) are well-established for promoting fetal lung maturity and reducing respiratory complications between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation, their role in late preterm births (34–36+6 weeks) is still being evaluated. This prospective observational study, conducted over six months at Akhtar Saeed Medical College, included 120 high-risk pregnant women between 34+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation who received intramuscular betamethasone (12 mg for two consecutive days). The sample size was calculated using the WHO sample size calculator, and maternal demographics, delivery details, and neonatal outcomes—including NICU admission, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), and hypoglycemia—were recorded and analyzed using SPSS v26. The findings revealed a statistically significant reduction in NICU admissions (1.25 vs. 1.32 in historical controls) and improved respiratory outcomes in the ANC group, including reduced incidence of RDS and TTN and less need for invasive respiratory support. These results support the use of ANC in late preterm pregnancies and align with emerging clinical guidelines advocating for its inclusion in management protocols for pregnancies at risk of late preterm delivery.