Caffeine Citrate in Preterm Infants at Risk of Apnea in Zambia

Once an infant has been deemed stable by the neonatologist and the neonatologist recommends discontinuing treatment for apnea of prematurity 5 days before hospital discharge as per standard of care, the parent/guardian will be approached for consent. Following consent, study participants will be randomized to either the Intervention Arm (20mg/kg/day caffeine citrate; 2mg/ml) dose and equal volume of placebo (sterile water) using trial-specific single dose caffeine/placebo vials. Upon the study participant's hospital discharge, the pharmacist will prepare the caffeine citrate and placebo relevant to the weight of the infant within 48 hours prior to discharge. The doses will not be adjusted for weight gain after discharge. Caffeine levels will not be checked routinely and checking levels will be discouraged to optimize masking.

While at the hospital, infants will receive the oral dose from government staff. Following hospital discharge, the parent/guardian will be given enough doses of caffeine or equivalent placebo for 28 days and will be asked to administer it to their infant orally daily, at the same time, until day 28. Unlike the intervention arm, all study participants randomized to the control arm (placebo) will discontinue receiving caffeine and will begin receiving placebo (sterile water) in the same volume orally as those in the intervention arm. The parent/guardian will also be given a booklet to register any apneic spells. The study RA will contact the parent/guardian on a weekly basis, up to day 28 and once at 2 months after hospital discharge for patient clinical monitoring and follow-up purposes.

Upon completion of the study at 12 months of life, all study participants will return to the hospital for neurodevelopmental screening using the Ages and Stages-3 Questionnaire for 12 months.

Data will be collected onto paper forms, which will then be entered into a REDCap Database, housed at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) offices. Data forms will be kept in locked cabinets, retained and destroyed per incineration after 5 years. Access to the data forms and REDCap Database will be restricted to those with a need to know.

Inclusion criteria

Newborns:

• 29 0/7 to 33 6/7 weeks GA (or with a birth weight 1.0 to 2.0 kg if pregnancy dating is unreliable) admitted to the UTH NICU,
• On methylxanthines with plans to discontinue on methylxanthine,
• Off oxygen therapy for >48 hours at the time of evaluation for eligibility,
• Receiving full daily feeds,
• Deemed stable and ready to go off caffeine as recommended by the Neonatologist
• 18+ years of age (parent)

Exclusion criteria

• Newborns with neuromuscular conditions affecting respiration,
• Major congenital malformations and genetic disorders,
• Unable to obtain parental or guardian consent