The impact of oral sucrose on apnea and bradycardia in preterm infants: a randomised cross-over trial

Pain may promote apnea of prematurity (AOP).1 Oral sucrose is effective for analgesia2 but no study has investigated its effect on the prevention of AOP. Our ethics committee approved the study and we obtained informed consent. Patient inclusion criteria were: gestational age < 32 weeks, chronological age at study entry ≥ 10 days and postmenstrual age < 36 weeks, caffeine and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP); need for additional oxygen < 30%, median apnea score ≥ 5 per …