What do systematic reviews say?

Vitamin A vs no supplementation

Supplemental vitamin A probably leads to lower death or chronic lung disease (oxygen use at 28 days) compared with no supplementation (moderate certainty).

• Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.93 [0.88, 0.99]
  6 studies · 1165 participants
  Moderate
• Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.92 [0.84, 1.01]
  4 studies · 1089 participants
  Moderate

Vitamin A vs no supplementation

Supplemental vitamin A showed no clear difference in death before 36 weeks' postmenstrual age compared with no supplementation (moderate certainty).

• Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.77, 1.29]
  4 studies · 1089 participants
  Moderate

Vitamin A vs no supplementation

Supplemental vitamin A showed no clear difference in neurodevelopmental impairment at 18 to 22 months compared with no supplementation (low certainty).

• Vitamin A supplementation to prevent mortality and short‐ and long‐term morbidity in very low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.89 [0.74, 1.08]
  1 study · 538 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin showed no clear difference in definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.57, 1.25]
  3 studies · 1840 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period ‐ IgA/IgG compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.08 [0, 1.39]
  1 study · 179 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin showed no clear difference in definite necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) during study period ‐ IgG compared with control (low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.63, 1.42]
  2 studies · 1661 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes definite NEC after study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.3 [0.47, 3.6]
  2 studies · 1661 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes NEC‐related surgery during study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.21 [0.02, 1.75]
  2 studies · 311 participants
  Very low

Summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin vs control

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table for oral immunoglobulin changes NEC‐related deaths during study period compared with control (very low certainty).

• Oral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth weight neonates 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.1 [0.47, 2.59]
  3 studies · 1840 participants
  Very low

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

Kangaroo mother care probably leads to lower mortality at latest compared with conventional neonatal care (moderate certainty).

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.67 [0.48, 0.95]
  12 studies · 2293 participants
  Moderate

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

Kangaroo mother care probably leads to lower severe infection/sepsis at latest compared with conventional neonatal care (moderate certainty).

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.5 [0.36, 0.69]
  8 studies · 1463 participants
  Moderate

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

Kangaroo mother care probably leads to lower hypothermia at discharge or at 40 to 41 weeks’ postmenstrual age ‐… compared with conventional neonatal care (moderate certainty).

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.28 [0.16, 0.49]
  9 studies · 989 participants
  Moderate

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  11 studies · 1198 participants
  Moderate

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

Kangaroo mother care probably leads to higher any breastfeeding at discharge or at 40 to 41 weeks' postmenstrual… compared with conventional neonatal care (moderate certainty).

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.2 [1.07, 1.34]
  10 studies · 1696 participants
  Moderate

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

Kangaroo mother care may leads to higher any breastfeeding at 1 to 3 months' compared with conventional neonatal care (low certainty).

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.17 [1.05, 1.31]
  9 studies · 1394 participants
  Low

Kangaroo mother care vs conventional neonatal care

• Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 579 participants
  Low

Cycled light (CL) vs irregular dimmed light or near darkness (ND)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 40 participants
  Low

Cycled light (CL) vs irregular dimmed light or near darkness (ND)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 77 participants
  Low

Cycled light (CL) vs continuous bright light (CBL)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 79 participants
  Low

Cycled light (CL) vs continuous bright light (CBL)

• Cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm and low birth weight infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 41 participants
  Low