Table 3 Association of unit policy regarding tocolysis after PPROM with latency duration (i.e. time to delivery period).

From: Unit policies regarding tocolysis after preterm premature rupture of membranes: association with latency, neonatal and 2-year outcomes (EPICE cohort)

Unit policy

Latency duration Median (IQR)

Adjusted hazard ratio† (95%CI)

Unit policy regarding tocolysis after PPROM (n = 607)

   No-use

5.0 (2.4–13.0)

Ref

   Restricted

5.0 (2.1–12.1)

1.15 (0.89–1.48)

   Liberal

5.2 (3.0–11.1)

1.14 (0.90–1.44)

Unit policy regarding first line tocolytic (n = 302)*

   Calcium channel blockers

4.6 (2.1–11.1)

Ref

   Betamimetics

7.3 (3.1–12.8)

0.85 (0.63–1.15)

   Oxytocin antagonists

5.0 (3.0–11.0)

0.92 (0.69–1.23)

Unit policy regarding the duration of tocolysis (n = 311)*

   ≤48 hrs

4.9 (2.7–11.0)

Ref

   As long as necessary

7.6 (3.0–13.2)

0.83 (0.65–1.07)

  1. IQR: interquartile range, PPROM: preterm premature rupture of membranes
  2. *Among units with liberal policy regarding tocolysis after PPROM
  3. †Stratified Cox models (stratification for gestational age at PPROM), with maternity units as level 2 and countries as level 3, and log-normal distribution of the hazard function.
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