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Short, medium, and long deferral of umbilical cord clamping compared with umbilical cord milking and immediate clamping at preterm birth : a systematic review and network meta-analysis with individual participant data

Seidler, Anna Lene ; Libesman, Sol ; Hunter, Kylie E. ; Barba, Angie ; Aberoumand, Mason ; Williams, Jonathan G. ; Shrestha, Nipun ; Aagerup, Jannik ; Sotiropoulos, James X. and Montgomery, Alan A. , et al. (2023) In The Lancet 402(10418). p.2223-2234
Abstract

Background: Deferred (also known as delayed) cord clamping can improve survival of infants born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), but the optimal duration of deferral remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of umbilical cord clamping strategies with different timings of clamping or with cord milking for preterm infants. Methods: We searched medical databases and trial registries from inception until Feb 24, 2022 (updated June 6, 2023) for randomised controlled trials comparing cord clamping strategies for preterm infants. Individual participant data were harmonised and assessed for risk of bias and quality. Interventions... (More)

Background: Deferred (also known as delayed) cord clamping can improve survival of infants born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), but the optimal duration of deferral remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of umbilical cord clamping strategies with different timings of clamping or with cord milking for preterm infants. Methods: We searched medical databases and trial registries from inception until Feb 24, 2022 (updated June 6, 2023) for randomised controlled trials comparing cord clamping strategies for preterm infants. Individual participant data were harmonised and assessed for risk of bias and quality. Interventions were grouped into immediate clamping, short deferral (≥15 s to <45 s), medium deferral (≥45 s to <120 s), long deferral (≥120 s), and intact cord milking. The primary outcome was death before hospital discharge. We calculated one-stage, intention-to-treat Bayesian random-effects individual participant data network meta-analysis. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019136640. Findings: We included individual participant data from 47 trials with 6094 participants. Of all interventions, long deferral reduced death before discharge the most (compared with immediate clamping; odds ratio 0·31 [95% credibility interval] 0·11–0·80; moderate certainty). The risk of bias was low for 10 (33%) of 30 trials, 14 (47%) had some concerns, and 6 (20%) were rated as having a high risk of bias. Heterogeneity was low, with no indication of inconsistency. Interpretation: This study found that long deferral of clamping leads to reduced odds of death before discharge in preterm infants. In infants assessed as requiring immediate resuscitation, this finding might only be generalisable if there are provisions for such care with the cord intact. These results are based on thoroughly cleaned and checked individual participant data and can inform future guidelines and practice. Funding: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

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LU orcid
author collaboration
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
The Lancet
volume
402
issue
10418
pages
2223 - 2234
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85178872790
  • pmid:37977170
ISSN
0140-6736
DOI
10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02469-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
id
7fba9950-38b4-4d4b-98f8-24bdac247f95
date added to LUP
2023-12-14 09:14:37
date last changed
2024-04-27 03:01:49
@article{7fba9950-38b4-4d4b-98f8-24bdac247f95,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Deferred (also known as delayed) cord clamping can improve survival of infants born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), but the optimal duration of deferral remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of umbilical cord clamping strategies with different timings of clamping or with cord milking for preterm infants. Methods: We searched medical databases and trial registries from inception until Feb 24, 2022 (updated June 6, 2023) for randomised controlled trials comparing cord clamping strategies for preterm infants. Individual participant data were harmonised and assessed for risk of bias and quality. Interventions were grouped into immediate clamping, short deferral (≥15 s to &lt;45 s), medium deferral (≥45 s to &lt;120 s), long deferral (≥120 s), and intact cord milking. The primary outcome was death before hospital discharge. We calculated one-stage, intention-to-treat Bayesian random-effects individual participant data network meta-analysis. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019136640. Findings: We included individual participant data from 47 trials with 6094 participants. Of all interventions, long deferral reduced death before discharge the most (compared with immediate clamping; odds ratio 0·31 [95% credibility interval] 0·11–0·80; moderate certainty). The risk of bias was low for 10 (33%) of 30 trials, 14 (47%) had some concerns, and 6 (20%) were rated as having a high risk of bias. Heterogeneity was low, with no indication of inconsistency. Interpretation: This study found that long deferral of clamping leads to reduced odds of death before discharge in preterm infants. In infants assessed as requiring immediate resuscitation, this finding might only be generalisable if there are provisions for such care with the cord intact. These results are based on thoroughly cleaned and checked individual participant data and can inform future guidelines and practice. Funding: Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.</p>}},
  author       = {{Seidler, Anna Lene and Libesman, Sol and Hunter, Kylie E. and Barba, Angie and Aberoumand, Mason and Williams, Jonathan G. and Shrestha, Nipun and Aagerup, Jannik and Sotiropoulos, James X. and Montgomery, Alan A. and Gyte, Gillian M.L. and Duley, Lelia and Askie, Lisa M.}},
  issn         = {{0140-6736}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10418}},
  pages        = {{2223--2234}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{The Lancet}},
  title        = {{Short, medium, and long deferral of umbilical cord clamping compared with umbilical cord milking and immediate clamping at preterm birth : a systematic review and network meta-analysis with individual participant data}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02469-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02469-8}},
  volume       = {{402}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}