What do systematic reviews say?

Systemic corticosteroids vs placebo or control

Systemic corticosteroids (dexamethasone or hydrocortisone) showed no clear difference in cerebral palsy ‐ at latest reported age compared with control (placebo or nothing) (high certainty).

• Late (≥ 7 days) systemic postnatal corticosteroids for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.17 [0.84, 1.61]
  17 studies · 1290 participants
  High

Systemic corticosteroids vs placebo or control

Systemic corticosteroids (dexamethasone or hydrocortisone) showed no clear difference in mortality or cerebral palsy ‐ at latest reported age compared with control (placebo or nothing) (high certainty).

• Late (≥ 7 days) systemic postnatal corticosteroids for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.9 [0.76, 1.06]
  17 studies · 1290 participants
  High

Early systemic postnatal corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Early systemic postnatal corticosteroids leads to higher cerebral palsy at latest reported age compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).

• Early (< 7 days) systemic postnatal corticosteroids for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.42 [1.06, 1.91]
  13 studies · 1973 participants
  High

Early systemic postnatal corticosteroids vs placebo or no treatment

Early systemic postnatal corticosteroids showed no clear difference in mortality or cerebral palsy at latest reported age compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).

• Early (< 7 days) systemic postnatal corticosteroids for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.91, 1.16]
  13 studies · 1973 participants
  High

Prophylactic CPAP vs mechanical ventilation

Prophylactic CPAP showed no clear difference in neurodevelopmental impairment defined as cerebral palsy,… compared with mechanical ventilation (moderate certainty).

• Prophylactic or very early initiation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.91 [0.62, 1.32]
  1 study · 976 participants
  Moderate

Continuous glucose monitoring system vs intermittent modalities

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Continuous glucose monitoring for the prevention of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in cerebral palsy at 18 to 24 months' corrected age (high certainty).

• Early erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents in preterm or low birth weight infants 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.72 [0.46, 1.13]
  6 studies · 1172 participants
  High

Moderate vs low protein concentration of human milk fortifier

• Comparison of different protein concentrations of human milk fortifier for promoting growth and neurological… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

High vs moderate protein concentration of human milk fortifier

• Comparison of different protein concentrations of human milk fortifier for promoting growth and neurological… 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Xenon as an adjuvant to therapeutic hypothermia in near‐term and term newborns with hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Continuous CTG vs intermittent auscultation

Continuous CTG showed no clear difference in cerebral palsy compared with intermittent auscultation (low certainty).

• Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) as a form of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) for fetal assessment during labour 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.75 [0.84, 3.63]
  2 studies · 13252 participants
  Low

Intermittent ausculation of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being ‐ Doppler vs routine Pinard (outcomes

• Intermittent auscultation (IA) of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intermittent ausculation of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being ‐ Intensive Pinard vs routine Pinard (outcomes

• Intermittent auscultation (IA) of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intermittent ausculation of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being ‐ Intermittent electronic fetal monitoring (CTG) vs routine Pinard (outcomes

• Intermittent auscultation (IA) of fetal heart rate in labour for fetal well‐being 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Barbiturate treatment vs placebo or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether barbiturate treatment changes cerebral palsy compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Prophylactic barbiturate use for the prevention of morbidity and mortality following perinatal asphyxia 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.58 [0.19, 1.7]
  2 studies · 69 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

• Endothelin receptor antagonists for persistent pulmonary hypertension in term and late preterm infants 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  37 participants
  Low

Universal screening vs No screening

Universal screening showed no clear difference in neurosensory disability (any of cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness,… compared with no screening (moderate certainty).

• Screening and subsequent management for thyroid dysfunction pre‐pregnancy and during pregnancy for improving maternal… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.85 [0.6, 1.22]
  1 study · 794 participants
  Moderate

Universal screening vs case finding

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Screening and subsequent management for thyroid dysfunction pre‐pregnancy and during pregnancy for improving maternal… 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in cerebral palsy (moderate certainty).

• Prophylactic phototherapy for preventing jaundice in preterm or low birth weight infants 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.96 [0.5, 1.85]
  2 studies · 756 participants
  Moderate

Bisphosphonate treatment (oral or intravenous) vs placebo or no treatment

• Bisphosphonate use in children with cerebral palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 12 participants
  Very low