Hospitalization and infant outcomes among women exposed and unexposed to tocolysis.
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.
Coleman
Brian
B
Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Grant
Therese
T
Mueller
Beth
B
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*
D015149:Tocolytic Agents