Continuous feeding versus intermittent bolus feeding for premature infants with low birth weight: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Home visits seem promising for improving the health of women and infants during pregnancy and postpartum. This review aimed to quantitatively analyse the effects of home visits delivered during pregnancy and postpartum on premature birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) and rapid repeat birth (RRB). Methods Literature was retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from January 1960 to October 2018 and the references lists of related studies and reviews were also screened. Eligible papers were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focussed on home visits conducted with women during pregnancy or postpartum and reported at least one of the following results: PTB, LBW and RRB. Fixed- or random-effects models were used to analyse the pooled results. Results Fourteen RCTs were included. Pooled estimates showed a beneficial effect on LBW (odds ratio (OR) = 0.83; P = 0.03; low-quality evidence) and RRB in the professional-visit subgroup (OR = 0.62; P = 0.003; moderate-quality evidence). However, there was insufficient evidence to support the favourable effects of home visits on PTB (OR = 0.96; P = 0.59, moderate-quality evidence) and RRB in the non-professional-visit subgroup (OR = 0.86; P = 0.53, moderate-quality evidence). The overall methodological quality was moderate. Egger’s test suggested no publication bias for PTB and LBW. Conclusion This meta-analysis is the first to suggest that home visits can prevent and decrease LBW and RRB; however, it remains unclear whether home visits benefit PTB. Therefore, home visits can be an alternative and complementary part of primary health care for women, especially those with risk factors.

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Neonatal zinc supplementation for prevention of mortality and morbidity in breastfed low birth weight infants: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Indian Pediatrics ◽

10.1007/s13312-011-0043-8 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 111-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Anjana Gulani ◽

Shinjini Bhatnagar ◽

H. P. S. Sachdev

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Zinc Supplementation ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Methodological quality of antimalarial randomized controlled trials during pregnancy and its impact on the risk of low birth weight

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.1111/bcp.12998 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 82 (3) ◽

pp. 806-813

Author(s):

Flory T. Muanda ◽

Anick Bérard

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Randomized Controlled

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The Administration of Probiotics in Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants and the Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Mortality: A Systematic Review

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i48b33269 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 121-131

Author(s):

Mohammed Khalid Harasani ◽

Sarah Abdulrahman Almosaiteer ◽

Faisal Saleh Aloraini ◽

Saleh Khalid Aldakhil ◽

Jamilah Sulaiman Alsaiari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Randomized Controlled Trials ◽

Necrotizing Enterocolitis ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Low Birth Weight Infants ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Impact

Encouraging findings were previously demonstrated in a previous meta-analysis that analyzed the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the potential favorable effects of probiotics administration in preterm infants to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and feeding intolerance. This evidence has only been linked to low birth-weight infants (<1000 g), while evidence regarding the impact of administration of these modalities for Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants (ELBW) infants is still controversial among the different studies in the literature. A systematic review was conducted to retrieve all the relevant randomized controlled trials in the literature that investigated the impact of probiotics administration on the different outcomes in ELBW infants, including the incidence of mortality and NEC. A thorough search was then conducted through the different databases to find the relevant articles.A total of 11 RCTs were included in the present systematic review. All articles were published between 2007 and 2021, with a total of 3225 ELBW infants were included in both the intervention and control groups across the different included trials. Our results indicate that the administration of these modalities does not have a significant impact on these outcomes. However, it has been reported that they enhance the growth rate, especially head growth circumference, which has been reported to be superior to the placebo effect. Further investigations for ELBW should be encouraged to furtherly validate these modalities, although no adverse events have been reported for their administration among trials in the current systematic review.

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