American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM | 2021
Dexamethasone vs. betamethasone for preterm birth: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES\nTo evaluate the comparative clinical effectiveness and safety of dexamethasone versus betamethasone for preterm birth.\n\n\nDATA SOURCES\nThe sources searched were MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Clinical Trials.gov, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform without language restrictions until October 2019, along with reference lists of included studies. Field experts were also contacted.\n\n\nSTUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA\nRandomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing any corticosteroids against each other or against placebo at any dose for preterm birth were included in the study.\n\n\nSTUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS\nThree researchers independently selected, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies by using EROS and COVIDENCE software. Random-effects pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed. The primary outcomes were chorioamnionitis, endometritis/puerperal sepsis, neonatal death, respiratory distress syndrome and neurodevelopmental disability.\n\n\nRESULTS\nForty-five trials (11227 women, 11878 infants) were included in the study. No clinical or statistical difference was found between dexamethasone versus betamethasone in neonatal death (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.62-1.84; moderate-certainty evidence), neurodevelopmental disability (OR 1.03; 95%CI 0.80-1.33; moderate -certainty evidence), intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 1.04 95%CI 0.56-1.78); low-certainty evidence), or birthweight (+5.29 gr; 95%CI -49.79 to 58.97; high-certainty evidence). No statistically significant difference, but potentially clinically important effect, was found between dexamethasone and betamethasone in chorioamnionitis (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.45-1.06; moderate-certainty evidence), fetal death (OR 0.81; 95%CI 0.24-2.41; low-certainty evidence), puerperal sepsis (OR 2.04; 95%CI 0.72-6.06; low-certainty evidence) and respiratory distress syndrome (OR 1.34; 95%CI 0.96-2.11; moderate-certainty evidence). Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analysis did not reveal important changes regarding the main analysis.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nCorticosteroids have proven effective for most neonatal and child relevant outcomes compared with placebo or no treatment for women at risk of preterm birth. No important difference was found on neonatal death, neurodevelopmental disability, intraventricular hemorrhage, and birthweight between corticosteroids, and no statistically significant but potentially important difference was found in chorioamnionitis, fetal death, endometritis/puerperal sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome. Further research is warranted to improve the certainty of evidence and inform health policies.