Background: Studies examining shorter intervals between antenatal
corticosteroid administration (ACS) and delivery are limited. This study analyzed
effects of the timing of ACS on short-term and long-term outcomes in premature
infants. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 534
deliveries between 22 and 29 gestational weeks, from January 2008
through December 2015, at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the
University Hospital in Ulm, Germany. The initiation of antenatal corticosteroids
to delivery was categorized using cutoffs of /24 hours. The study
reported on gestational age, birthweight, the time interval between the first ACS
and delivery, Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration (APGAR)
score, umbilical pH, delivery mode, incidences of retinopathy of prematurity
(ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH),
necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the use of surfactant, as well as the
neurodevelopment after 2 years (mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor
development index (PDI)), and mortality. Results: Gestational ages were
significantly advanced in the 24 hours group (p 0.001). The
incidences of BPD and IVH were significantly higher in neonates with less than 24
hours to delivery (BPD: 51.0% vs. 41.2%, p = 0.045; IVH:
10.5% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.001). There were no significant
differences in ROP (p = 0.083), NEC (p = 0.856), or
neurodevelopment after 2 years (MDI: p = 0.465, PDI: p =
0.116). Conclusions: Complications such as NEC and ROP, along with
long-term neurological outcomes, do not seem to be influenced by shorter ACS
intervals. In contrast, BPD, IVH, and surfactant administration appear to occur
more frequently with ACS 24 hours.