Association of early caffeine administration and neonatal outcomes in very preterm neonates.
OBJECTIVE
Advantages of caffeine for apnea of prematurity have prompted clinicians to use it prophylactically even before apnea.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of early initiation of caffeine therapy on neonatal outcomes in very preterm infants born in Canada.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients included preterm neonates born at less than 31 weeks' gestation admitted to 29 participating Canadian Neonatal Network neonatal intensive care units between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2012.


METHODS
Neonates who received caffeine were divided into 2 groups based on the following timing of caffeine initiation: within the first 2 days after birth (early) and on or after the third day following birth (late).


METHODS
A composite of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia.


RESULTS
Of 5517 eligible neonates, 5101 (92.5%) received caffeine (early: 3806 [74.6%]; late: 1295 [25.4%]). There was no difference in weight or gestational age at birth between the groups. Neonates in the early group had decreased odds of a composite outcome of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.98) and patent ductus arteriosus (AOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.89). There was no difference between the groups in mortality (AOR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.70-1.37), necrotizing enterocolitis (AOR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.65-1.20), severe neurological injury (AOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.63-1.01), or severe retinopathy of prematurity (AOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.56-1.10).


CONCLUSIONS
In very preterm neonates, early (prophylactic) caffeine use was associated with a reduction in the rates of death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia and patent ductus arteriosus. No adverse impact on any other outcomes was observed.
Department of Pediatrics and Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Abhay
A
Lodha
Department of Pediatrics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Mary
M
Seshia
Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Douglas D
DD
McMillan
Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Keith
K
Barrington
Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Junmin
J
Yang
Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Shoo K
SK
Lee
Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Prakesh S
PS
Shah
D001049:Apnea / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002110:Caffeine