Table 2

Outcome measures at the age of 4 months in infants whose umbilical cords were clamped after 10, 60 or 180 s

Umbilical cord clamping time60 s vs 10 s60 s vs 180 s
10 s
(n=153 (HC))
60 s
(n=147)
180 s
(n=148 (HC))
Mean difference (95% CI)P valueMean difference (95% CI)P value
Infant age (days)122 (6)126 (7)122 (6)5 (3 to 6)<0.0014 (3 to 6)<0.001
Main outcome measures
 Geometric mean (range) ferritin (μg/L)80 (33 to 191)96 (44 to 208)117 (58 to 232)0.83 (0.69 to 1.45)*0.0521.21 (1.03 to 1.44)*0.02
 Haemoglobin (g/dL)11.3 (7)11.5 (8)11.3 (8)2 (0 to 4)0.0472 (0 to 4)0.03
Blood count
 Haematocrit (%)33.0 (2.0)33.3 (2.2)32.7 (2.1)0.3 (−0.2 to 0.8)0.191 (0 to 1)0.02
 Mean cell volume (fL)77.9 (3.1)77.7 (3.7)79.2 (3.0)−0.2 (−1 to 0.6)0.67−1.5 (−2.3 to −0.7)<0.001
 Reticulocyte count (×1012/L)0.037 (11)0.036 (11)0.040 (11)−1 (−4 to 1)0.39−4 (−6 to −1)0.01
Iron status
 Transferrin receptor (mg/L)4.00 (0.80)4.07 (0.92)3.71 (0.69)0.07 (−0.13 to 0.26)0.510.35 (0.17 to 0.54)<0.001
 Transferrin saturation (%)16 (6)16 (8)18 (6)1 (−1 to 2)0.40−2 (−3 to 0)0.03
  • Values are means (SD) unless stated otherwise.

  • Successful analyses in the 60 and 180 s groups: haemoglobin (n=140, 144), haematocrit, mean cell volume, reticulocyte count (n=135, 144), ferritin (n=147, 148), transferrin receptor (n=147, 148), transferrin saturation (n=145, 148).

  • *Geometric mean ratio (95% CI for geometric mean).

  • HC, Historical  cohort.