title: Antenatal exposure to betamethasone: psychological functioning and health related quality of life 31 years after inclusion in randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if antenatal exposure to betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome alters psychological functioning and health related quality of life in adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up of the first and largest double blind, placebo controlled, randomised trial of a single course of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary obstetric hospital in Auckland, New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  192 adult offspring, mean age 31 years, of mothers who took part in a randomised controlled trial of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (87 exposed to betamethasone and 105 exposed to placebo).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers received two doses of betamethasone or placebo 24 hours apart.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive functioning assessed with Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence; working memory and attention assessed with Benton visual retention test, paced auditory serial addition test, and Brown attention deficit disorder scale; psychiatric morbidity assessed with Beck depression inventory II, state-trait anxiety inventory, and schizotypy traits questionnaire; handedness assessed with Edinburgh handedness inventory; health related quality of life assessed with short form 36 health survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found between groups exposed to betamethasone and placebo in cognitive functioning, working memory and attention, psychiatric morbidity, handedness, or health related quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal exposure to a single course of betamethasone does not alter cognitive functioning, working memory and attention, psychiatric morbidity, handedness, or health related quality of life in adulthood. Obstetricians should continue to use a single course of antenatal betamethasone for the prevention of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. j.harding@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Stuart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dalziel
authors.forename: Vanessa K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parag
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Harding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone