Efficient administration of a combination of nifedipine and sildenafil citrate versus only nifedipine on clinical outcomes in women with threatened preterm labor: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Preterm labor (PTL) is a common and serious pregnancy disorder that can cause long-term neurological issues in the infant. There are conflicting studies concerning whether sildenafil citrate (SC) reduces preterm labor complications. Therefore, the meta-analysis aimed to examine the clinical outcomes in women with threatened PTL who received nifedipine plus SC therapy versus only nifedipine.
Methods
For the original articles, six databases were searched using relevant keywords without restriction on time or language until January 13, 2024. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB) and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) were both used to assess the risk of bias in randomized and non-randomized studies, and GRADE determined the quality of our evidence. Meta-analysis of all data was carried out using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.1.
Results
Seven studies with mixed quality were included in the meta-analysis. The study found that combining nifedipine and SC resulted in more prolongation of pregnancy (MD = 6.99, 95% CI: 5.32, 8.65, p < 0.00001), a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001), a higher birth weight (252.48 g vs. nifedipine alone, p = 0.02), and the risk ratio of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was significantly lower (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001) compared to nifidepine alone. The evidence was high for prolongation of pregnancy, delivery rate 24–72 h after admission, and NICU admission, but low for newborn birth weight.
Conclusions
Given the effectiveness of SC plus nifedipine in increased prolongation of pregnancy and birth weight, lower delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, and NICU admission, Gynecologists and obstetricians are suggested to consider this strategy for PTL management, although additional article rigor is required to improve the quality of the evidence.
Hinweise
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Introduction
Approximately 13.4 million preterm births were born globally in 2023. 15% of preterm deliveries globally occurred before 32 weeks of gestation between 2010 and 2020, requiring additional medical care [1]. Preterm labor (PTL) is a common and serious pregnancy condition that can cause long-term neurological issues in the infant [2]. Therefore, to reduce its effects on families and the healthcare system, PTL must be prevented [3]. Tocolytic therapy postpones childbirth for 24–48 h to administer corticosteroids. This reduces the occurrence and severity of respiratory complications and facilitates the transfer of the fetus to a hospital with a suitable neonatal critical care unit (NICU) [4, 5]. As per the guidelines of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, nifedipine is the recommended medicine choice for tocolytics [6]. According to updated World Health Organization (2022) antenatal corticosteroids recommendations, the Lancet recently reported an important point on tocolytic therapy in PTL. The guideline panel emphasized that tocolytic therapy should only be given when the potential advantages outweigh the risks for mother and fetus and safety requirements were also ensured [7, 8]. The hypothesis suggests that Sildenafil citrate (SC) can promote uterine quietness in patients at risk of premature birth by causing smooth muscle relaxation using the release of nitric oxide (NO) [9]. The increasing utilization of SC in the management of vascular or contractile diseases during pregnancy was just introduced [10, 11]. Currently, the advantages of utilizing the drug in managing preeclampsia [12, 13], in addition to the verified presence of growth restriction conditions [14, 15].
A 2020 Iranian study proposed that the addition of SC to nifedipine treatment for threatened PTL resulted in several positive outcomes. The positive outcomes seen were a longer delay in delivery in cases of PTL, a decreased risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a reduction in NICU admissions, and an increase in neonatal birth weight [16]. An additional study was done in Egypt in 2023 in which two groups were given nifedipine alone or in combination with SC, and it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the number of neonatal infections or the outcome of the fetus. However, a significant difference was found between the two groups under investigation concerning newborn respiratory distress, with an increased incidence of this disease in the group receiving nifedipine alone (P = 0.02) [17].
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To efficiently allocate resources towards managing the risk of PTL and providing evidence-based quality care, it is crucial to have strong and well-supported evidence for prioritizing investments. This is particularly important considering the mixed clinical outcomes of administering SC treatment in combination with a first-line drug in PTL in various research studies. The meta-analysis aimed to examine the clinical outcomes in women with threatened PTL who received nifedipine plus SC therapy versus only nifedipine.
Materials and methods
This systematic review and meta-analysis follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) standards.
Search strategy
For original publications about "Efficacy of a combination of nifedipine and SC versus nifedipine in clinical outcomes in PTL," a search was conducted until January 13, 2024. The search process was conducted for MEDLINE through the PubMed interface, Scopus, Web-of-Science, Science Direct, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar. The search terms included MESH, entrance terms, and keyword selections by experts. They comprised: sildenafil citrate, Viagra, Revatio, Nifedipine, Adalat, Acetildenafil, Preterm labor, Premature birth (Table 1).
Table 1
Search strategy of databases
PUBMED
("sildenafil"[Title/Abstract] OR "Viagra"[Title/Abstract] OR "Homosildenafil"[Title/Abstract] OR "Revatio"[Title/Abstract] OR "Acetildenafil"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("Nifedipine"[Title/Abstract] OR "Adalat"[Title/Abstract] OR "Fenigidin"[Title/Abstract] OR "Procardia"[Title/Abstract] OR "cordipin*"[Title/Abstract]) AND ("preterm"[Title/Abstract] OR "premature"[Title/Abstract]) AND 1985/01/01:2024/12/31[Date—Publication]
7 results
Web of Science
# Web of Science Search Strategy (v0.1)
# Database: Web of Science Core Collection
# Entitlements:
- WOS.SCI: 1945 to 2024
- WOS.AHCI: 1975 to 2024
- WOS.ESCI: 2019 to 2024
- WOS.SSCI: 1956 to 2024
# Searches:
1: ((((TS = (sildenafil)) OR TS = (Viagra)) OR TS = (Homosildenafil)) OR TS = (Revatio)) OR TS = (Acetildenafil)
Date Run: Sat Jan 13 2024 09:14:14 GMT + 0330 (Iran Standard Time)
Results: 13468
2: ((((TS = (nifedipine)) OR TS = (adalat)) OR TS = (Fenigidin)) OR TS = (Procardia)) OR TS = (cordipin*)
Date Run: Sat Jan 13 2024 09:16:17 GMT + 0330 (Iran Standard Time)
Results: 22095
3: (TS = (preterm)) OR TS = (premature)
Date Run: Sat Jan 13 2024 09:17:04 GMT + 0330 (Iran Standard Time)
Results: 252524
4: #1 AND #2 AND #3
Date Run: Sat Jan 13 2024 09:17:42 GMT + 0330 (Iran Standard Time)
Results: 7
7 results
Scopus
#1 TITLE-ABS-KEY ( sildenafil) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( viagra) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( homosildenafil) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( revatio): 23,225 document results
#2 TITLE-ABS-KEY ( nifedipine) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( adalat) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( fenigidin) OR TITLE-ABS-KEY ( procardia): 55,195 document results
(“sildenafil citrate” OR viagra) AND (nifedipine OR adalat) AND (preterm OR premature)
114 results
Cochrane library
Date Run:
13/01/2024 09:02:44
2 results
ID
Search
Hits
#1
MeSH descriptor: [Sildenafil Citrate] explode all trees
1098
#2
MeSH descriptor: [Nifedipine] explode all trees
2245
#3
MeSH descriptor: [Premature Birth] explode all trees
2180
#4
preterm
17,810
#5
#3 OR #4
18,263
#6
#1 AND #2 AND #5
2
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Articles were included that met the following criteria: (a) Type of study: randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies in which the effect of nifedipine versus a combination of nifedipine and SC on clinical outcomes of PTL; (b) Type of intervention: administration of nifedipine combined with SC with any dose; length of time in women with threatened PTL was considered; (C) Outcomes: weight of birth, admission to the NICU, and latency in childbirth were considered. Exclusion criteria included (a) studies conducted on animals; (b) lack of access to full text; (C) letters to the editor; commentary; articles presented at conferences; preprint articles; and retracted articles. We imposed no language and no time restrictions.
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Data abstraction
The primary output of the search procedure was examined in terms of title and abstract by two different researchers after duplicate articles had been removed and unrelated items had been discarded. The remaining articles' full texts were then read. Unrelated articles were eliminated, and only those that met the eligibility criteria remained. To arrive at a final joint opinion in cases where there was a difference of opinion between reviewers, the two appraisers' differences were resolved through discussion, and in cases where there was still disagreement, the third person would enter into the discussion.
Data extraction
The research team initially constructed a data extraction tool, and the data was extracted based on the items. This was done to extract the data from the articles in an integrated manner. The first author's name, the publication year, the country, the type of study, the sample size, sample characteristics, the intervention, the comparison, the tools used to collect the data, the quality assessment, and the outcomes were all listed. Using independent pairwise evaluations, two researchers (EM and ML) conducted the assessment. Disagreements were once again settled through debate or, in cases where it was not feasible, by requesting the participation of the independent third author. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to rate the quality of the studies that were included. GRADE is a well-known way to figure out how certain evidence is by looking at its risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency, indirectness, and publication bias [18].
Risk of bias
Two authors conducted separate evaluations to determine the quality of the research studies that were included. The risk of bias for randomized and non-randomized trials was evaluated by version 2 of the risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) in the Cochrane Handbook [19] and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) tool, respectively [20].
The ROB2 tool has five domains through which bias might be introduced into the result including [1] randomization process, [2] deviations from the intended interventions, [3] missing outcome data, [4] measurement of the outcome, and [5] selection of the reported result. Each domain assessed and each study overall is shown to have either a low risk of bias, some concerns relating to the risk of bias, or a high risk of bias.
All sources of bias currently considered to have an impact on the results of nonrandomized studies of interventions are covered by the domains contained in the RoBANS tool. It includes 6 domains that assess bias in participant selection, confounding variables, exposure measurement, outcome assessment blinding, incomplete outcome data, and selective outcome reporting. In both instruments, each domain was rated as "yes," "no," or "unclear" Then, each study was classified into 1 of 3 categories: "poor" (high risk of bias), "good" (low risk of bias), or "unclear." Any disagreement between the researchers was resolved through discussion.
Ethical considerations
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran, has acknowledged the systematic review and meta-analysis (code number 4021715). We diligently adhered to all research ethics requirements in the current study. The authors attempted to prevent plagiarism and refrain from manipulating the data for their advantage. The research team thoroughly addressed all ethical concerns in the stages of identification, screening, extraction, and data analysis.
Statistical analyses
Meta-analyses of all data were performed using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.1. For the same outcome that had a mean and standard deviation, if the same assessment scale was used between studies, the mean difference (MD) was used to estimate the effect size, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to express the confidence level. In one of the studies, quantitative data were given as median (range), which were converted into mean and standard deviation [21]. We used the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% CI to express dichotomous data. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Chi2 and I-squared, and I-squared > 50% was considered to be significantly heterogeneous. If there was no significant statistical heterogeneity, the fixed effects estimate was typically used as the summary measure. In a single picture, the forest plots were used to provide an overview of the data from separate research, provide a visual representation of the degree of study heterogeneity, and display the estimated common impact. Publication bias was not evaluated due to the limited number of research studies considered in each forest plot. Moreover, subgroup analyses were set up to explore whether the results of the effect values were the same under different conditions, and sensitivity analysis was used to verify the reliability of the meta-analysis results and reduce heterogeneity.
Results
Characteristics of the included studies
After the electronic search, out of 364 retrieved studies, 41 studies were evaluated after the initial screening process and 7 studies were included in the meta-analysis (Fig. 1). The publication date of the articles was between 2019 and 2023, and 4 articles (57%) were published in [17, 22‐24], which indicates that a combination of nifedipine and SC has recently been considered in PTL management. The characteristics of the articles included in the meta-analysis are shown in Table 2. The included articles were conducted in Iran (28.5%) [16, 23], Pakistan (28.5%) [22, 25], Egypt (28.5%) [17, 26], and India (14.5%) [24]. The sample size in the articles varied from 60 [24] to 292 [25] per study. The study design in 6 studies (85.5%) was a randomized control trial (RCT) and one study (14.5%) was quasi-experimental [24].
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the process of selecting articles based on PRISMA
Table 2
Characteristics of the articles included in the meta-analysis
computer-generated random number table (balloting method)
160 (80 + 80)
"singleton gestation presenting at gestational age 30 weeks to 34 weeks with PTL and cervical dilatation of ≤ 3 cm"
"nifedipine 20 mg orally, followed by 10 mg orally every eight hours for 48 h and vaginal administration of sildenafil citrate, 25 mg at eight-hour intervals, for 48 h"
"nifedipine 20 mg orally, followed by 10 mg orally every 8 h for 48 h."
sildenafil citrate plus nifedipine showed a significant effect in the management of PTL and prolongation in mean gestational age at delivery
"PTL at the age of 15–45 yr, cases of threatened PTL (uterine contractions > 4 in 20 min with cervical dilatation and effacement), between 24–34 weeks gestation, intact fetal membranes, cervical dilatation less than 4 cm, does not have any significant chronic medical conditions, has no medical restrictions for Nif and SC therapy, and has not experienced PTL in the past"
Nif 20 mg orally (single dose), then 10 mg every 6-h, and at the same time vaginal SC 25 mg every 8 h (Nif + SC)
Nif 20 mg orally (single dose), then 10 mg every 6-h
Nif with SC is superior to Nif alone in women at risk of PTL due to increasing gestational age and better neonatal outcomes
pregnant women with a gestational age of 26–34 weeks with singleton pregnancy and diagnosis of preterm delivery
nifedipine (10 mg every 6 to 8 h, orally) plus sildenafil (25 mg every 8 h, vaginally)
nifedipine (10 mg every 6 to 8 h, orally)
In PTL instances, using SC in addition to nifedipine results in a longer delivery time, a decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), fewer admissions to the NICU, and preservation of neonatal birth weight
Pregnancy with a single fetus between 28 and 34 weeks, with no rupture of the membranes
“Oral nifedipine 20 mg (stat dosage), then 10 mg every 6 h concurrently with oral SC 20 mg given at 8 h”
nifedipine 20 mg orally (stat dose), followed by 10 mg orally every 6 h
A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups under study in delivery 24,48 and 72 h after admission, with fewer early deliveries among the nifedipine with sildenafil group. Vaginal SC plus with nifedipine is most effective tocolytic medication in threatened PTL
Pregnancies with singleton fetuses between 24 and 34 weeks' gestation are threatened by PTL
" The nifedipine and SC groups received the same dosage as the nifedipine-only group, with the additional dose given by 25 mg of SC every 8 h vaginally."
"nifedipine only group (20 mg nifedipine orally followed by 10 mg orally every 6 to 8 h)"
The combination of SC administration and nifedipine is a highly successful choice for tocolytic therapy in cases of PTL
Singleton pregnancy with 28–37 gestational age and without vaginal discharge
"Nifedipine 20 mg orally stat dose followed by 10 mg orally every 6–8 h at the same time as vaginal administration of sildenafil citrate 25 mg at 8th hourly interval every 6-8 h."
"Administer a single oral dose of Nifedipine at 20 mg and a maintenance dose of 10 mg orally every 6–8 h."
SC plus nifedipine is more effective than nifedipine alone in avoiding PTL
high
×
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The number of participants in the included articles was 1105, of which 554 were in the Nif + Sil (case) group and 551 were in the Nif (control) group. Out of 6 RCTs, the" block randomization method" was used in two studies [16, 23], and the "computerized random number table generator" was used in four studies [17, 22, 25, 26]. In all of the included studies, nifedipine was started with 20 mg followed by 10 mg every 6–8 h. Only in the study of Mohammadi et al. the starting dose was 10 mg [16].
In the inclusion criteria of the participants, the gestational age varied between 24 and 37 weeks. In 5 studies, the maximum gestational age was considered to be 34 weeks [16, 17, 22, 23, 26]. Also, in three studies, the minimum gestational age was 24 weeks [23, 25, 26].
In 5 studies, the participants had received corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation, in 4 studies dexamethasone [17, 22, 25, 26], and in one study betamethasone was prescribed [22]. However, in the study of Singh et al. [24] and Mohammadi et al. [16] there was no mention of corticosteroid administration.
In 3 studies cervical assessment by transvaginal ultrasound was also performed as a screening tool to determine the likelihood of birth within 48 h of admission [17, 24, 26].
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Risk of bias assessment
In the assessment of the methodological quality of the included RCTs using the ROB2 tool, five studies were at high risk of bias [17, 22, 23, 25, 26] and one trial was rated as having some concerns [16] (Table 3). Also, a methodological quality assessment of one non-randomized study was performed using the RoBANS tool, which was reported as high risk of bias [24]. The biggest weakness in the qualitative evaluation of the studies was 'deviations from intended interventions' [17, 24, 25].
Table 3
Risk of bias of included studies
Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Randomized Studies 2 (RoB 2)
All of the studies had a low risk of bias on "missing outcome data" and "selective reporting " items (Table 3).
Meta-analysis findings
Effect of the intervention on the prolongation of pregnancy
Common effect size
Figure 2 shows the forest plot of the intervention on the prolongation of pregnancy. The pooled analysis showed that the combination of nifedipine and sildenafil citrate was associated with more prolongation of pregnancy compared to nifedipine alone (MD = 6.99, 95% CI: 5.32, 8.65, p < 0.00001). The heterogeneity among the studies was moderate (I-squared = 45%). Due to the limited number of articles, the publication bias could not be evaluated.
Fig. 2
Forest plot of the effect of Sildenafil citrate along with Nifedipine compared to Nifedipine alone on the prolongation of pregnancy (days)
×
Sensitivity analysis
Due to the moderate heterogeneity, it was necessary to perform a sensitivity analysis to check the reliability of the results. After excluding the study with the highest body weight [16], the pooled effect size favored the combination therapy group (MD = 7.86, 95% CI: 5.02,10.69, p < 0.00001). Additionally, when excluding the study with the largest sample [26], the pooled effect size was better for the combination therapy group (MD = 6.39, 95% CI: 5.29, 7.50, p < 0.00001).
Even if the trial with the smallest sample was excluded [24], the pooled effect size still showed greater pregnancy prolongation in the combination therapy group (MD = 7.71, 95% CI: 4.82–10.59, p < 0.00001). Therefore, the reanalysis performed on heterogeneity did not yield different results from the primary analysis.
Effect of the intervention on the delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission
Common effect size
The forest plot of the combination therapy effect on the delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission is presented in Fig. 3. Based on the findings of this plot, the use of SC along with Nifdipin compared to Nifdipin alone was associated with a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, which was statistically significant (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001). Due to the lack of significant heterogeneity (I-squared = 0%, p = 1.0), the fixed effect model was used. The publication bias was not measured due to the small number of articles.
Fig.3
Forest plot of the effect of Sildenafil citrate along with Nifedipine compared to Nifedipine alone on the delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission
×
Subgroup analysis
Analysis of subgroups showed that in the first 24 h after the intervention, the risk ratio of delivery was not significantly different in the two studied groups (RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.36, 1.16, p = 0.15). but, at 48 h (RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.89, p = 0.007) and 72 h (RR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.79, p = 0.0008) after the intervention, the risk ratio of delivery rate was significantly lower in the SC and nifedipine group compared to the nifedipine group alone.
Effect of the intervention on neonatal birth weight
Common effect size
Figure 4 shows the forest plot of the effect of nifedipine and SC treatment regimen compared to nifedipine alone on the birth weight of neonates. The results of the meta-analysis showed that according to the random effect model, the birth weight of neonates in the combination therapy group was 252.48 g more than the nifedipine group alone, which was statistically significant (p = 0.02). Publication bias was not assessed because the number of studies was insufficient.
Fig. 4
Forest plot of the effect of Sildenafil citrate along with Nifedipine compared to Nifedipine alone on neonatal birth weight (grams)
×
Sensitivity analysis
Due to high heterogeneity between studies (I-squred = 93%, p < 0.00001), sensitivity analysis was performed. The findings showed that by excluding the study with the largest weight [16], the birth weight in the combination therapy group was significantly higher than the comparison group (MD = 167.72, 95% CI: 99.16, 236.28, p < 0.00001). Also, by excluding the study with the largest sample size [26], the findings were still in favor of the combination therapy group (MD = 301.82, 95% CI: 72.22, 512.65, p = 0.01). However, with the withdrawal of the study with the smallest sample size [24], although the birth weight of neonates was still higher in the combination therapy group compared to the nifedipine group, the P-value increased to 0.5 and therefore this difference was out of significance (MD = 242.90, 95% CI: -3.47, 489.45, p = 0.05).
Effect of the intervention on the NICU admission
Figure 5 shows the forest plot of the pooled risk ratio of the intervention effect on the rate of NICU admission. According to the findings of the meta-analysis, in the group using the combination of nifedipine and SC, the risk ratio of admission to the NICU was significantly lower than in the group using Nifedipine alone (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001). A fixed effect model was used due to low heterogeneity (I-squared = 0%, p = 0.83). Publication bias was not evaluated due to the small number of studies.
Fig. 5
Forest plot of the effect of Sildenafil citrate along with Nifedipine compared to Nifedipine on the rate of NICU admission
×
Quality of evidence
We used GRADEpro GDT (Guideline Development Tool) to assess the quality of evidence for outcomes, and the results are shown in Table 4. The quality of evidence was high for prolongation of pregnancy, delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission, and NICU admission. They were given two downgrades by the risk of bias and two upgrades by very large effect size. The quality of evidence was low for neonatal birth weight. It was given three downgrades by inconsistency and risk of bias and one upgrade by large effect size.
Table 4
GRADE evidence profiles for outcomes among the studies included in the meta-analysis
Certainty assessment
№ of patients
Effect
Certainty
Importance
№ of studies
Study design
Risk of bias
Inconsistency
Indirectness
Imprecision
Other considerations
Nifedipine and Sildenafil
Nifedipine alone
Relative
(95% CI)
Absolute
(95% CI)
Prolongation of pregnancy
4
randomised trials
very seriousa
not serious
not serious
not serious
very strong association
297
294
-
MD 6.99 higher
(5.32 higher to 8.65 higher)
⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
CRITICAL
Delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission
5
randomised trials
very seriousa
not serious
not serious
not serious
very strong association
111/908 (12.2%)
178/899 (19.8%)
RR 0.62
(0.50 to 0.76)
75 fewer per 1,000
(from 99 to 48 fewer)
⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
CRITICAL
Neonatal birth weight
5
randomised trials
very seriousa
seriousb
not serious
not serious
strong association
328
325
-
MD 252.48 higher
(40.95 higher to 494.01 higher)
⨁⨁◯◯
Low
IMPORTANT
NICU admission
5
randomised trials
very seriousa
not serious
not serious
not serious
very strong association
88/360 (24.4%)
141/357 (39.5%)
RR 0.62
(0.50 to 0.76)
150 fewer per 1,000
(from 197 to 95 fewer)
⨁⨁⨁⨁
High
IMPORTANT
CI Confidence interval, MD Mean difference, RR Risk ratio
Explanations
aThe overall bias for most of the studies is high risk
bThe magnitude of the results in the individual studies vary and high heterogeneity exists
Discussion
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to compare a combination of nifedipine and SC versus only nifedipine in terms of clinical outcomes in women with threatened PTL. In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we examined 6 RCTs and 1 quasi-experimental study involving women with threatened PTL. The pooled analysis showed that the combination of nifedipine and SC was associated with significantly more prolongation of pregnancy, a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, higher birth weight of neonates, and lower admission to the NICU compared to nifedipine alone.
We believe this meta-analysis is the first to directly assess the efficacy of a combination of nifedipine and SC with only nifedipine in preterm pregnancy, and no meta-analysis has examined the effects of sildenafil on PTL.
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Numerous Cochrane systematic studies on the impact of various tocolytics on the outcomes of mothers and newborns have been performed [27‐29]. The Cochrane reviews investigated only randomized trials and often concluded that there is insufficient evidence addressing the benefits and possible disadvantages of tocolysis in particular groups of women. This conclusion highlights the crucial matter of exploring alternative pharmaceuticals to achieve optimal results in cases of PTL.
In a 2022 meta-analysis, Cochrane compared tocolytics for premature birth prolongation. Betamimetics, calcium channel blockers, magnesium sulfate, oxytocin receptor antagonists, and nitric oxide donors may have helped to delay early birth for up to seven days and 48 h compared to a placebo or no drug treatment. But tocolytics induce several side effects, from mild to severe. The three most efficacious tocolytics, including nifedipine, oxytocin receptor antagonists, and nitric oxide donors, demonstrated the most beneficial balance between advantages and risks. Nifedipine has the potential to diminish the incidence of respiratory complications, neurodevelopmental disorders, and low birth weight [30].
The current meta-analysis showed significantly higher pregnancy prolongation and a lower birth rate in the first to third days following hospitalization. The prolongation of pregnancy variable was investigated in four studies [16, 22, 24, 26]. Postponing premature birth can provide an opportunity for crucial, internationally approved measures to enhance the health of newborns, such as the prescription of prenatal corticosteroids or a shift to a more advanced level of medical care [31]. One potential mechanism for the impact of SC on PTL is the inhibition of the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 by SC. This inhibition results in an elevation of C-guanosine monophosphate levels in smooth muscle in the arteries, which increases the expansion of smooth muscle [23].
Meta-analysis results showed a combination of nifedipine and SC leads to a significantly higher birth weight in neonates; it was investigated in five studies [16, 17, 23, 24, 26]. It is absolutely obvious that with pregnancy prolongation, the weight of the fetus will increase. Evidence suggests that newborns with very low birth weights (VLBW) are frequently the most seriously ill and most at risk for future morbidity and death. They also contribute significantly to the number of hospital days overall and take up a significant amount of the time, energy, and financial resources of NICU staff [32]. As a result, reducing LBW has been declared to be an important health goal, and the international community established a global objective of 30% fewer newborns born with LBW between 2010 and 2025 [33]. It is important to find strategies that lead to a reduction in NICU hospitalization, given the imposed burden. Recent research revealed that the out-of-pocket expenses of families and the utilization of long-lasting medical equipment were linked to heightened financial distress [34, 35].
In a study conducted by Abdulhameed et al. (2021), the use of sildenafil citrate along with routine tocolytics (case group) was compared with the routine tocolytics group (control group). According to the results of this study, in the case group, the mean gestational age and the mean weight of the neonate were higher than the control group. On the other hand, fetal anomaly and fetal growth restriction were more in the control group than in the case group. The live birth rate was also higher in the case group, but none of the above outcomes were statistically significant [6].The results of this study are consistent with the present meta-analysis in terms of higher gestational age and birth weight.
Ashraf Ali et al. (2018) investigated seven randomized controlled trials of atosiban versus nifedipine to conclude which one was better at inhibiting PTL. They found that atosiban had fewer adverse effects on mothers than nifedipine, but both drugs made pregnancy last the same amount of time. In terms of safety, nifedipine caused greater maternal adverse effects than atosiban, including headaches and tachycardia [36]. It was also stated that nifedipine's oral method, low cost, and potential to reduce newborn morbidity, especially RDS, support its usage, although it can cause maternal side effects.
According to a meta-analysis conducted in 2023, prophylactic SC use in infants at risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) did not appear to have any positive effects on mortality, BPD, or other outcomes; it also did not appear to have any increased side effects [37]. With only three trials and a limited sample size of 162 newborns, this study could not achieve an ideal information size for all outcomes evaluated.
In the current meta-analysis, there was variability in some factors. Nevertheless, we did not conduct subgroup analyses to examine the potential factors contributing to this variability, such as the precise dosage of SC, the gestational age at which it was administered, or the particular method employed. This was because the assessed research lacked adequate, comprehensive data regarding their methods of inquiry. Hence, a crucial objective would be to determine the most suitable dosing schedules for SC treatments to avoid any adverse effects and maximize their efficacy. Furthermore, the administration of tocolytic medicines should be tailored to each individual and based on the potential for negative side effects and the overall health of the mother.
In the articles included in the present study, side effects following the use of SC were not reported. The maternal tolerance generally in pregnancy was analyzed by Dunn et al. [38] and Ferreira et al. [39], considering that using SC during pregnancy did not cause any serious side effects in the mother and that the available information supports the medication's safety and potential for use as a treatment for specific diseases affecting the mother and fetus. On the other hand, the Dutch STRIDER experiment revealed that newborns exposed to SC had a higher chance of developing neonatal pulmonary hypertension [40]. The study sample consisted of pregnancies at high risk with fetal growth restrictions. However, there is a lack of research examining the safety of SC in pregnancies with normal risk. The controversy and extensive media coverage surrounding the STRIDER trials have raised public awareness of the risks associated with using this drug class in pregnant populations. This view presents significant obstacles for subsequent studies in this particular field. No long-term research followed infants, so we couldn't determine the medicine's childhood impacts. Due to its safety during pregnancy and lack of teratogenic effects, SC may be a potential premature delivery medicine.
Given that there is no universally accepted method for evaluating the certainty of the effect estimates produced by the meta-analysis, we followed the GRADE Working Group's advice and applied the rigorous method for assessing the reliability of network evidence. In general, the quality of the evidence ranged greatly, and our level of confidence in the estimations varied from low for neonatal birth weight to high for prolongation of pregnancy, delivery rate in the 24–72 h after admission, and NICU admission certainty. Of course, despite all the above interpretations, due to the overall risk of bias in the articles included in the present study, we suggest conducting randomized studies with high power regarding the effect of SC on PTL, especially with special attention to the domain of deviations from intended interventions.
This review's advantages include following the Cochrane Handbook to identify and reduce all biases. This review includes trials identified through a comprehensive, language-free search. At least two review authors independently screened, extracted, and assessed bias. We have many review weaknesses. Most RCTs we examined had poor methodology, affecting study reliability. It is important to realize that the trials in the study recruited women with different clinical features when interpreting the outcomes. Not all trials recorded adverse effects; therefore, these analyses were underpowered. To consolidate neonatal birth weight evidence, more high-quality, big trials are needed. Finally, publication bias may result from the small number of studies. More research will concentrate on maternal SC treatment's long-term consequences. Although randomized trials with these women are challenging, well-conducted retrospective observational studies may assist global clinical decision-making. An economic evaluation must be done to consider benefits, risks, supply costs, and resource needs when assessing SC and nifedipine.
Conclusion
The combination of nifedipine and sildenafil citrate was associated with more prolongation of pregnancy, a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, a high birth weight of neonates, and lower admission to the NICU compared to nifedipine alone. Further high-quality, large trials are required to improve the certainty of the evidence about the neonatal birth weight variable. The results of this study can be useful for policymakers and experts in the field of obstetrics and gynecology to consider different options when providing health services with fewer complications to women at risk of premature birth.
Acknowledgements
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The authors declare no competing interests.
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Efficient administration of a combination of nifedipine and sildenafil citrate versus only nifedipine on clinical outcomes in women with threatened preterm labor: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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