New Evidence Available
Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2022, WHO recommendations on antenatal corticosteroids for improving preterm birth outcomes.
View latest version (2022)Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes
Year of Publication2015
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Retired
Recommended in favor
Strong
Certainty of evidence
Low
Antenatal corticosteroid therapy is recommended for women at risk of preterm birth irrespective of whether a single or multiple birth is anticipated
Notes and Remarks
- 1.This recommendation precludes the routine (or prophylactic) administration of antenatal corticosteroid to any woman with a multiple pregnancy, on the basis of increased risk of preterm birth.
- 2.The GDG acknowledged the lack of clarity on the benefits of antenatal corticosteroids in the subgroup of women carrying multiple fetuses, but based its judgement on the overall improvement in critical outcomes among singleton infants, in addition to the fact that the point estimates were all in favour of reduced risks of adverse critical outcomes reported in multiple pregnancy. The group considered the potential impact of any clinical benefit in this group of women (who are inherently more likely to deliver preterm), albeit modest, on the overall preterm newborn survival and morbidity rates, and therefore made a strong recommendation.
- 3.Although there remains some level of uncertainty about the effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids in multiple pregnancy, the GDG does not consider this to be a research priority.