Table 1 Baseline characteristics of very preterm infants by treatment group (n=123) followed for neurodevelopmental outcomes in Bangladesh

% female: % [n, standard deviation (SD)]

38; 45; 35

42.1% (16)

51.1% (23)

34.3% (12)

0.317

% Rural: % (n, SD)

38; 45; 34

36.8% (14)

51.1% (23)

14.7% (5)

0.004

% Low income (<2000 Taka/month): % (n, SD)

37; 45; 34

16.2% (6)

22.2% (10)

11.4% (4)

0.531

Maternal literacy: % (n, SD)

37; 45; 35

83.8% (31)

82.2% (37)

82.4% (28)

0.980

Paternal literacy: % (n, SD)

37; 45; 34

78.4% (29)

82.2% (37)

85.3% (29)

0.749

Antenatal history of illness: % (n, SD)

32; 38; 31

50.0% (16)

55.3% (21)

67.7% (21)

0.342

Parental consanguinity: % (n, SD)

37; 42; 33

10.8% (4)

14.3% (6)

6.1% (2)

0.520

Birth asphyxia: % (n, SD)

36; 43; 39

 Yes

25.0% (9)

16.3% (7)

23.1% (9)

 Suspected

16.7% (6)

14.0% (6)

10.3% (4)

0.775

Neonatal seizures: % (n)

37; 42; 32

2.7% (1)

4.8% (2)

0.0% (0)

0.457

Mean maternal age (years): mean (SD)

36; 43; 38

24.14 (4.35)

24.60 (4.96)

24.32 (4.54)

0.903å

Mean gestational age (week): mean (SD)

38; 44: 40

31.22 (1.42)

31.06 (1.52)

31.48 (1.09)

0.374

Mean birthweight (gram): mean (SD)

38; 45; 35

1318.19 (223.68)

1291.66 (230.11)

1370.03 (245.28)

0.302

Mean birth length (centimeter, cm): mean (SD)

36; 44; 40

38.06 (2.89)

37.94 (2.91)

38.80 (2.25)

0.302

Mean birth head circumference (cm): mean (SD)

36; 44; 40

26.96 (5.01)

27.34 (1.70)

27.89 (1.42)

0.407

Mean birth mid-upper-arm circumference (cm): mean (SD)

36; 44; 40

6.86 (1.38)

6.76 (1.03)

7.14 (0.78)

0.264