Delayed Cord Clamping and Early Neonatal Outcomes in Infants Born Before 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Highlights
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- In the DCC group, the rates of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were reduced. Additionally, the DCC group showed lower rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), feeding intolerance, and mortality.
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- DCC was associated with a decreased incidence of grade 3 IVH and higher APGAR scores.
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- DCC may improve early health outcomes and survival in preterm infants by reducing intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and other severe morbidities.
- •
- By decreasing the incidence of grade 3 IVH and improving APGAR scores, DCC can support cardiopulmonary stability and provide positive effects on physiological development.
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Study Population, Inclusion, and Exclusion Criteria
2.2. Data Collection and Study Groups
2.3. Delayed Cord Clamping Protocol
2.4. Ethics
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| ANS | Antenatal steroid |
| BPD | Bronchopulmonary dysplasia |
| C/S | Cesarean section |
| DCC | Delayed cord clamping |
| ECC | Early cord clamping |
| EMA | European Medicines Agency |
| GA | Gestational age |
| IVH | Intraventricular hemorrhage |
| IQR | Interquartile range |
| LOS | Late-onset sepsis |
| NEC | Necrotizing enterocolitis |
| NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
| OR | Odds ratio |
| PDA | Patent ductus arteriosus |
| PROM | Premature rupture of membranes |
| RDS | Respiratory distress syndrome |
| ROP | Retinopathy of prematurity |
| SD | Standard deviation |
| SGA | Small for gestational age |
| USG | Ultrasonography |
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| Variables | Delayed Cord Clamping | Total (n = 156) | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No (n = 86) | Yes (n = 70) | |||
| Sex, male | 46 (53.5) | 34 (48.6) | 80 (51.3) | 0.54 |
| Gestational age, (wk) | 26 (25–28) | 28 (26–30) | 27 (25–29) | <0.001 |
| Birth weight (g) | 850 (685–1095) | 1000 (780–1300) | 890 (700–1150) | <0.001 |
| Maternal age (y) | 28.01 ± 5.76 | 28.71 ± 7.32 | 28.35 ± 6.54 | 0.51 |
| Mode of delivery, C/S | 84 (97.7) | 64 (91.4) | 148 (94.9) | 0.14 |
| Multiple pregnancy | 23 (26.7) | 16 (22.9) | 39 (25.0) | 0.57 |
| Preeclampsia | 10 (11.6) | 12 (17.1) | 22 (14.1) | 0.32 |
| Chorioamnionitis | 8 (9.3) | 3 (4.3) | 11 (7.1) | 0.34 |
| SGA | 36 (40.7) | 17 (24.3) | 52 (33.3) | 0.031 |
| PROM | 15 (17.4) | 7 (10.0) | 22 (14.1) | 0.18 |
| Antenatal steroid | 36 (41.9) | 48 (68.6) | 84 (53.8) | <0.001 |
| APGAR score | ||||
| 1 min | 5 (3–6) | 7 (6–8) | 6 (4–7) | <0.001 |
| 5 min | 7 (6–8) | 8 (7–9) | 8 (6–8) | <0.001 |
| Morbidity Variables | Delayed Cord Clamping | Total (n = 156) | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No (n = 86) | Yes (n = 70) | |||
| PDA | 52 (60.5) | 39 (55.7) | 91 (58.3) | 0.54 |
| LOS | 52 (60.4) | 43 (61.4) | 95 (60.8) | 0.32 |
| IVH | ||||
| Grade 1 | 9 (10.4) | 6 (8.3) | 15 (9.6) | <0.001 |
| Grade 2 | 7 (8.1) | 4 (5.7) | 11 (7.1) | <0.001 |
| Grade 3 | 10 (11.6) | 0 (0.0) | 10 (6.4) | <0.001 |
| Feeding intolerance | 60 (69.8) | 35 (50.0) | 95 (60.9) | 0.012 |
| RDS | 73 (84.9) | 41 (58.6) | 114 (73.1) | <0.001 |
| ROP | 6 (7.1) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (3.9) | 0.033 |
| BPD | 54 (62.8) | 30 (42.9) | 84 (53.8) | 0.013 |
| NEC | 13 (15.1) | 11 (15.7) | 24 (15.4) | 0.91 |
| Mortality | 18 (20.9) | 5 (7.1) | 23 (14.7) | 0.016 |
| Variable | Unadjusted Model | Adjusted Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR (95% CI) | p-Value | OR (95% CI) | p-Value | |
| IVH | 2.92 (1.48–5.77) | 0.002 | 2.08 (0.89–4.86) | 0.09 |
| BPD | 2.25 (1.18–4.29) | 0.014 | 1.27 (0.57–2.84) | 0.56 |
| RDS | 3.97 (1.86–8.48) | <0.001 | 1.98 (0.80–4.88) | 0.13 |
| Mortality | 3.44 (1.21–9.81) | 0.021 | 2.05 (0.56–7.56) | 0.28 |
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Bağcı, O.; Yazıcı, A.; Ören, A.; Tunc, G.; Guney Varal, I. Delayed Cord Clamping and Early Neonatal Outcomes in Infants Born Before 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Children 2026, 13, 783. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060783
Bağcı O, Yazıcı A, Ören A, Tunc G, Guney Varal I. Delayed Cord Clamping and Early Neonatal Outcomes in Infants Born Before 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Children. 2026; 13(6):783. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060783
Chicago/Turabian StyleBağcı, Onur, Aybüke Yazıcı, Ayşe Ören, Gaffari Tunc, and Ipek Guney Varal. 2026. "Delayed Cord Clamping and Early Neonatal Outcomes in Infants Born Before 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Retrospective Cohort Study" Children 13, no. 6: 783. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060783
APA StyleBağcı, O., Yazıcı, A., Ören, A., Tunc, G., & Guney Varal, I. (2026). Delayed Cord Clamping and Early Neonatal Outcomes in Infants Born Before 30 Weeks of Gestation: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Children, 13(6), 783. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13060783
