Clinical indication and timing of antenatal corticosteroid administration at a single centre.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how well antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) were timed, based on the indication for administration for women delivering preterm.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Tertiary medical centre.


METHODS
Six hundred and thirty women who had singleton preterm births between 24 and 34 weeks' gestational age.


METHODS
Charts from 2006 to 2011 were reviewed for indications for ACS administration, which included premature rupture of membranes, threatened preterm labour, risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth such as short ultrasound cervical length, positive fetal fibronectin, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Charts were reviewed for timing of ACS administration in relation to delivery.


METHODS
The primary outcome was optimal timing, defined as administration of ACS ≥ 24 hours to ≤ 7 days prior to delivery.


RESULTS
Of 630 women who delivered preterm, 589 (93%) received ACS prior to delivery. ACS timing was optimal in 40% (238 of 589) of cases. Women with hypertensive disorders were most likely to have steroids optimally timed (62%). Asymptomatic women at increased risk for preterm delivery were less likely to receive optimally timed ACS (12%). The majority of women who received steroids >2 weeks prior to delivery (57%) received a second course.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of women who delivered preterm did not receive optimally timed ACS. Diagnostic tools that identified women at risk for preterm birth were not able to identify patients for appropriate steroid timing. Given the range of clinical scenarios in which patients are at increased risk for preterm delivery, further research is needed to assist clinicians in optimising steroid administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Optimal timing of antenatal steroids prior to delivery does not occur in most cases.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
H I
HI
Levin
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
C V
CV
Ananth
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
C
C
Benjamin-Boamah
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Z
Z
Siddiq
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
M
M
Son
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
A M
AM
Friedman
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Antenatal corticosteroid administration; care quality; preterm delivery