Impact of inhaled corticosteroids on the neurodevelopmental outcomes in chronically ventilated extremely low birth weight preterm infants.

Background: Few studies have assessed the long-term impact of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in preterm infants. This study evaluated the neurodevelopmental outcomes of chronically ventilated extremely low birth weight (ELBW) preterm infants exposed to ICS.

Methods: The medical records of ELBW preterm infants admitted to two tertiary-level neonatal intensive care units from 2008 to 2014 were reviewed. Infants intubated for more than 28 days were included. The neurodevelopmental outcomes were compared at 24 months corrected age, between those with ICS exposure (inhaled group, IH) and those without it (non-inhaled group, NIH), by using the Bayley-Scale-of-Infant-and-Toddler Development-III (BSID-III).

Results: Out of the 115 infants included, 64 had an ICS exposure. The incidence of the morbidities at the time of discharge, was comparable between the two groups, except for the duration of oxygen and mechanical ventilation dependence (IH 124.8 ± 40.3 days vs. NIH: 101.0 ± 28.6 days, p < 0.001 and IH 60.0 ± 25.8 days vs. NIH: 42.3 ± 14.2 days, p < 0.001, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis at 24 months corrected age revealed no significant differences in the BSID-III scores and in the incidence of cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental impairment.

Conclusion: The late ICS exposure was not associated with neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months corrected age in chronically ventilated ELBW infants; however, it did not reduce the duration of their dependence on oxygen and mechanical ventilation.