ANCHOR

The aim of the ANCHOR Study is to determine the long-term effects of
treatment before birth with a medicine called corticosteroids. We will
assess adults who received this treatment before birth as part of two
randomised trials.   

The Auckland Steroid Study was the first randomised trial of antenatal corticosteroids to be undertaken in the world. When the mothers in the study were pregnant, there was a risk that they may give birth early (preterm). They received corticosteroids, or a matching placebo, before the birth. The study showed that corticosteroids reduced death and illness in their babies, and appeared to be safe in the short term. These “babies” were born between 1969 and 1974 and are now around 50 years old.

The ACTORDS study was a multi-centre study undertaken at 23 centres across New Zealand and Australia between 1998 and 2004. Mothers who took part in this study had already received one course of corticosteroids, but were still at risk of preterm birth a week or more later. They were randomised to receive repeat corticosteroids or a placebo. That study showed that repeat corticosteroids further reduced the risk of lung disease and other serious illness in their babies and appeared to be safe up to 2 years and 6 - 8 years of age. These “babies” are now around 20 years old.

The ANCHOR study is following up the children and grandchildren of women who took part in the Auckland Steroid Trial and the ACTORDS trial to determine what effect (if any) the treatment had on their health and well-being as an adult, as well as on the next generation.  

Babies born early (preterm) often have trouble adjusting to life outside of the womb, as some of their major organs, especially their lungs, are not yet fully developed.

Although there is no doubt that giving corticosteroids to women at risk of preterm birth benefits their baby, we still don’t know if this has any effect on the later health of the “baby” as they get older. Some studies in animals have suggested that this is possible, and some suggest that it is possible that these effects may also be passed down to their children, but there are no long-term studies in people.

New information about the long-term effects, if any, of exposure to antenatal corticosteroids on the baby and their children, would provide important information about the safety of this effective and low-cost intervention. Understanding any possible effects on adult health will also help healthcare professionals decide how best to care for mothers and their babies as they grow up in the future.  

We have assessed the health of 50-year olds whose mothers took part in the Auckland Steroid Trial.  We found that there was no difference between the participants whose mothers received betamethasone and those who received the placebo in the number who:

• Died between the newborn period and 50-years of age
• Had diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Had heart attacks, strokes or similar conditions
• How they rated their general health

• As the steroid medication helps reduce lung disease and death in premature babies, we have recommended to doctors worldwide that they can continue to use this lifesaving treatment.

For more information about the study, email the study team at
ANCHOR@auckland.ac.nz

Or call the ANCHOR study coordinator on 027 280 0160

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