Table 2 Comparison of means and standard deviations and of frequency counts respectively of the short-term health outcome measures for the intervention and control group

Weight gain until 21 days in 2 groups (g)

1492.79 ± 21.65

1395.71 ± 17.61

.003^**

Frequency of apnea events

.6 ± 1.54

1 ± 2.11

.16^*

Frequency of oxygen desaturations

1 ± 1.54

5 ± 9.31

.03^*

Duration of achieving to full oral feeding (days)

17 ± 6

20 ± 11

.19

Frequency of gavage feeding events

725 ± 584

1846 ± 2097

.009