Chorioamnionitis · women at risk of preterm birth
Maternal outcomes: corticosteroids showed no clear difference in chorioamnionitis№ of participants: 8374(15 RCTs) compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.86 [0.69, 1.08]
Studies not reported
Moderate
Endometritis · women at risk of preterm birth
Maternal outcomes: corticosteroids showed no clear difference in endometritis№ of participants: 6764(10 RCTs) compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 1.14 [0.82, 1.58]
Studies not reported
Moderate
Perinatal mortality · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
Neonatal and child outcomes: corticosteroids leads to lower perinatal death (composite of fetal death (in utero death) and… compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.85 [0.77, 0.93]
Studies not reported
High
Neonatal death (baby born alive at any gestation and dies within 28 days) · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
Neonatal and child outcomes: corticosteroids leads to lower neonatal death (infants born with signs of life who die within the… compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.78 [0.7, 0.87]
Studies not reported
High
Respiratory distress syndrome · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
Neonatal and child outcomes: corticosteroids leads to lower respiratory distress syndrome№ of participants: 11,183(26 RCTs) compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.71 [0.65, 0.78]
Studies not reported
High
Intraventricular haemorrhage · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
Neonatal and child outcomes: corticosteroids probably leads to lower intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)№ of participants: 8475(12 RCTs) compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.58 [0.45, 0.75]
Studies not reported
Moderate
Mean birthweight · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
High
Developmental delay in childhood№ of participants: 600 (3 RCTs). Age at · infants born of women at risk of preterm birth
Neonatal and child outcomes: corticosteroids probably leads to lower developmental delay in childhood№ of participants: 600 (3 RCTs). Age… compared with placebo or no treatment (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
RR 0.51 [0.27, 0.97]
Studies not reported
Moderate
Respiratory distress syndrome · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) showed no clear difference in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) compared with usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and… (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Transient tachypnoea of the neonate (TTN) · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) showed no clear difference in transient tachypnoea of the neonate (TTN) compared with usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and… (low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Admission to neonatal special care (all levels) for respiratory morbidity · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) probably leads to lower admission to neonatal special care (all levels) for respiratory… compared with usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and… (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Need for mechanical ventilation · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
It is very uncertain whether effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) changes need for mechanical ventilation compared with usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and… (very low certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
Neonatal hypoglycaemia · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
1 finding from 1 review
Severe maternal morbidity and mortality index · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
1 finding from 1 review
Maternal development of postpartum infection/pyrexia in the first 72 hours · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy
1 finding from 1 review
B3: Caesarean section – an all women · the woman
Summary of findings table ‐ Repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids showed no clear difference in B3: Caesarean section – an all women compared with single course (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review
B4: Discontinuation of therapy due to maternal adverse effects – an all women · the woman
1 finding from 1 review
Admission to the intensive care unit ‐ not reported · the woman
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
No studies found
Breastfeeding at hospital discharge ‐ not reported · the woman
The review found no eligible studies for this question.
1 finding from 1 review
no estimate extracted
Studies not reported
No studies found
C1: Total deaths (after randomisation) up to early childhood · the child
Summary of findings table ‐ Repeat dose(s) of prenatal corticosteroids showed no clear difference in C1: Total deaths (after randomisation) up to early childhood compared with single course (moderate certainty).
1 finding from 1 review