Table 1 Characteristics of all infants.

Gestational age (weeks)^a

32.4

(31.0–35.0)

32.6

(31.2–35.0)

32.4

(30.6–35.0)

ns

Bodyweight (g)^a

1582

–0.52 SD

(1299–2009)

(–1.63 to 0.30)

1389

–2.10 SD

(1132–1511)

(–2.51 to 1.41)

1828

0.12 SD

(1426–2194)

(–0.47 to 0.74)

<0.05

Length (cm)^a

38.5

–0.73 SD

(36.0–41.3)

(–1.49 to 0.26)

37.5

–1.84 SD

(35.4–39.0)

(–2.26 to –1.24)

40.5

0.24 SD

(37.9–42.5)

(–0.54 to 0.65)

<0.05

Head circumference (cm)^a

28.5

–0.57 SD

(26.5–30.0)

(–0.83 to 0.36)

28.5

–0.77 SD

(27.0–29.5)

(–1.04 to –0.57)

29.4

0.41 SD

(26.6–30.5)

(–0.48 to 0.80)

ns

Male^b

ns

Cesarean section^b

ns

Apgar score (1‘)^a

7

(5–8)

7

(5–9)

7

(5–8)

ns

Apgar score (5’)^a

8

(7–10)

9

(7–10)

8

(7–9)

ns

pH^a

7.324

(7.285–7.360)

7.316

(7.268–7.343)

7.341

(7.307–7.366)

ns

HCO₃- (mmol/L)^a

22.8

(21.0–25.1)

22.4

(21.3–24.3)

23.1

(20.8–25.2)

ns

BE (mmol/L)^a

–2.9

(–5.0 to –1.1)

–3.6

(–5.4 to –2.2)

–2.2

(–4.7 to –0.7)

ns