Comparison Of Magnesium Sulphate Verses Nifedipine In Preterm Labor

Abstract

Objectives: To comparatively evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate and nifedipine in the management of preterm labour.                                                                                                    

Materials and Methods:  After ethical approval, 120 eligible patients were enrolled and divided into two groups, receiving either oral nifedipine or intravenous magnesium sulfate. Maternal and fetal parameters were monitored, treatment efficacy was assessed at 48 hours, and data were collected via a predesigned questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 26.

Results: The study participants had a mean age of 33.54 ± 6.78 years, with 49 (40.8%) aged 18–30 years, 44 (36.7%) aged 31–40 years, and 27 (22.5%) older than 40 years. Treatment efficacy was higher in Group A (46 patients, 76.7%) than in Group B (34 patients, 56.7%), while lack of efficacy was 23.3% and 43.3%, respectively. The mean gestational age was 31.62 ± 2.85 weeks in Group A and 31.31±3.24 weeks in Group B. Mean parity was 2.23±1.14 in Group A versus 1.80 ± 0.93 in Group B, and mean gravida was 2.68 ± 1.32 compared with 2.26 ± 1.16. In Group A, no significant association was found between efficacy and age, parity, gestational age, or gravida. In Group B, while age and gestational age were not significantly associated with efficacy, parity (p = 0.01) and gravida (p = 0.02) showed significant correlations, with higher treatment success observed in patients with parity 3–4 and gravida greater than three.

Conclusion: Nifedipine proved more effective than magnesium sulfate in delaying preterm labor, with higher efficacy and fewer maternal side effects, while magnesium sulfate’s effectiveness was influenced by maternal parity and gravida, emphasizing the need for individualized therapy.