title: Hospitalization and infant outcomes among women exposed and unexposed to tocolysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether infants exposed to tocolytics are at increased risk for selected adverse clinical and hospitalization outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a population-based cohort study of women with preterm labor, in Washington State from 1989 to 2001 (N=79,679), using linked hospitalization records. Relative risks for infant outcomes were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusted risk estimates for infants exposed to tocolysis were greater for respiratory distress (RR=1.5, 95% CI 1.4 to 1.6), intubation (RR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.5), and bacterial infection (RR=1.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 1.8). Exposed infants were also more likely to have birth hospitalizations >2 days (RR=1.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.4), require transfer (RR=1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.8), have increased hospital costs (RR=2.3, 95% CI 2.2 to 2.4), and require readmisssion within the first year of life (RR=1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants exposed to tocolytics appeared to have relatively poorer hospitalization and clinical outcomes; significant benefits were not observed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D015145:Tocolysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents