Table 3 Patients’ characteristics stratified by actual treatment applied (variable enemas, lipid enemas, no enemas)

Gestational age; mean (weeks)

27.1 (2.2)

26.9 (2.1)

27.3 (2.3)

I vs. II 0.45

I vs. III 0.57

II vs. III 0.28

Gestational age; median (weeks)

26.9 (23.3–31.7)

26.7 (23.4–31.9)

26.9 (23.6–31.9)

Birth weight; mean (g)

760.5 (211.6)

764.3 (214.4)

840.4 (199.5)

I vs. II 0.85

I vs. III 0.20

II vs. III 0.04

Birth weight; median (g)

745 (280–1060)

740 (240–1230)

795 (490–1240)

Male

99/201 (49.3%)

75/141 (53.2%)

24/57 (42.1%)

I vs. II 0.47

I vs. III 0.34

II vs. III 0.16

Small for gestational age

84/201 (41.8%)

57/141 (40.4%)

22/57 (38.6%)

I vs. II 0.80

I vs. III 0.67

II vs. III 0.81

Multiple births

86/201 (42.8%)

47/141 (33.4%)

I vs. II 0.08

I vs. III 0.29

II vs. III 0.81

Caesarean section

185/201 (92.0%)

131/141 (92.2%)

52/57 (91.1%)

I vs. II 0.77

I vs. III 0.84

II vs. III 0.69

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy

188/201 (93.5%)

127/141 (90.1%)

50/57 (87.8%)

I vs. II 0.24

I vs. III 0.15

II vs. III 0.63

Pre-eclampsia

13/201 (6.5%)

13/141 (9,2%)

5/57 (8.8%)

I vs. II 0.35

I vs. III 0.55

II vs. III 0.92

Oligohydramnios

15/201 (7.5%)

5/141 (3.5%)

2/57 (3.5%)

I vs. II 0.13

I vs. III 0.29

II vs. III 0.99

Chorioamnionitis

47/201 (23.4%)

25/141 (17.7%)

13/57 (22.8%)

I vs. II 0.21

I vs. III 0.93

II vs. III 0.41

Apgar 1

5 (1–9)

6 (0–9)

6 (0–9)

I vs. II 0.17

I vs. III 0.11

II vs. III0.63

Apgar 5

8 (1–10)

8 (2–10)

8 (0–10)

I vs. II 0.28

I vs. III 0.18

II vs. III 0.04

Apgar 10

9 (1–10)

9 (4–10)

9 (1–10)

I vs. II 0.92

I vs. III 0.03

II vs. III 0.04

pH at birth

7.3 (6.83–7.49)

7.3 (6.85–7.48)

7.3 (7.02–7.40)

I vs. II 0.58

I vs. III 0.66

II vs. III 0.40

No. of surfactant doses

1.0 (0–6)

1 (0–5)

1 (0–3)

I vs. II 0.73

I vs. III 0.61

II vs. III 0.04

Moderate or severe BPD

32/201 (15.9%)

23/141 (16.3%)

6/57 (10.5%)

I vs. II 0.92

I vs. III 0.31

II vs. III 0.29

Treatment with dexamethasone for BPD

16/201 (8.0%)

10/141 (7.1%)

3/57 (5.3%)

I vs. II 0.77

I vs. III 0.49

II vs. III 0.64

Hydrocortisone for arterial hypotension

30/201 (14.9%)

20/141 (14.2%)

5/57 (8.8%)

I vs. III 0.85

I vs. III 0.23

II vs. III 0.29

Hydrocortisone for BPD prophylaxis

1/201 (0.5%)

70/141 (49.6%)

29/57 (50.9%)

I vs. II < 0.01

I vs. III < 0.01

II vs. III < 0.89

Treatment w. inhaled budesonide during first 14 days

66/201 (32.8%)

29/141 (20.6%)

10/57 (17.5%)

I vs. II 0.01

I vs. III 0.03

II vs. III 0.63

PDA treatment with Indomethacin

90/201 (44.8%)

23/141 (16.3%)

4/57 (7.0%)

I vs. II < 0.01

I vs. III < 0.01

II vs. III 0.08

PDA treatment with Ibuprofen

44/201 (21.9%)

35/141 (24.8%)

11/57 (19.3%)

I vs. II 0.53

I vs. III 0.67

II vs. III 0.41

PDA ligation

5/201 (2.5%)

2/141 (1.4%)

0/57 (0.0%)

I vs. II 0.49

I vs. III 0.23

II vs. III 0.37

IVH grades 1 to 3

32/201 (15.9%)

21/141 (14.9%)

4/57 (7.0%)

I vs. II 0.80

I vs. III 0.09

II vs. III 0.13

PVHI

9/201 (4.5%)

7/141 (5.0%)

4/57 (7.0%)

I vs. II 0.83

I vs. III 0.44

II vs. III 0.57

PVL

5/201 (2.5%)

2 (1.4%)

0/57 (0.0%)

I vs. II 0.49

I vs. III 0.23

II vs. III 0.37

ROP treatment (laser/antibody)

4/201 (2.0%)

3/141 (2.1%)

1/57 (1.8%)

I vs. II 0.93

I vs. III 0.91

II vs. III 0.87

Fed predominantly with EBM during first 14 days

105/201 (52.2%)

100/141 (70.9%)

35/57 (61.4%)

I vs. II < 0.01

I vs. III 0.22

II vs. III 0.19

Duration of hospital stay (days)

74.0 (1–232)

73 (1–225)

65 (1–232)

I vs. II 0.81

I vs. III 0.19

II vs. III 0.26

Weight at discharge (g)

2538.9 (881.6)

2458.7 (845.6)

2457.9 (782.9)

I vs. II 0.57

I vs. III 0.37

II vs. III 0.54

Mortality

18/201 (9.0%)

13/141 (9.2%)

6/57 (10.5%)

I vs. II 0.93

I vs. III 0.72

II vs. III 0.78