• BMJ · Jan 2011

    Randomized Controlled Trial

    Effect of delayed versus early umbilical cord clamping on neonatal outcomes and iron status at 4 months: a randomised controlled trial.

    • Ola Andersson, Lena Hellström-Westas, Dan Andersson, and Magnus Domellöf.
    • Department of Paediatrics, Hospital of Halland, Halmstad, SE-301 85 Halmstad, Sweden. ola.k.andersson@regionhalland.se
    • BMJ. 2011 Jan 1;343:d7157.

    ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of delayed umbilical cord clamping, compared with early clamping, on infant iron status at 4 months of age in a European setting.DesignRandomised controlled trial.SettingSwedish county hospital.Participants400 full term infants born after a low risk pregnancy.InterventionInfants were randomised to delayed umbilical cord clamping (≥ 180 seconds after delivery) or early clamping (≤ 10 seconds after delivery).Main Outcome MeasuresHaemoglobin and iron status at 4 months of age with the power estimate based on serum ferritin levels. Secondary outcomes included neonatal anaemia, early respiratory symptoms, polycythaemia, and need for phototherapy.ResultsAt 4 months of age, infants showed no significant differences in haemoglobin concentration between the groups, but infants subjected to delayed cord clamping had 45% (95% confidence interval 23% to 71%) higher mean ferritin concentration (117 μg/L v 81 μg/L, P < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of iron deficiency (1 (0.6%) v 10 (5.7%), P = 0.01, relative risk reduction 0.90; number needed to treat = 20 (17 to 67)). As for secondary outcomes, the delayed cord clamping group had lower prevalence of neonatal anaemia at 2 days of age (2 (1.2%) v 10 (6.3%), P = 0.02, relative risk reduction 0.80, number needed to treat 20 (15 to 111)). There were no significant differences between groups in postnatal respiratory symptoms, polycythaemia, or hyperbilirubinaemia requiring phototherapy.ConclusionsDelayed cord clamping, compared with early clamping, resulted in improved iron status and reduced prevalence of iron deficiency at 4 months of age, and reduced prevalence of neonatal anaemia, without demonstrable adverse effects. As iron deficiency in infants even without anaemia has been associated with impaired development, delayed cord clamping seems to benefit full term infants even in regions with a relatively low prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT01245296.

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