• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.225-235
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analysis the effects of nasal Continuous Postive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) for preterm infants using systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Thirteen peer-reviewed journals including preterm infants and apnea and nCPAP published between 1973 and 2013 were included. Effect size and statistics of homogeneity were done using STATA 10.0. Results: The design for 9 studies was Randomized Control Trial. In most of studies the pressure of nCPAP was set to 4-6 cm$H_2O$. The effect size of 5 studies for the effect on apnea rate using nCPAP compared to nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nIPPV) showed that the Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) was -0.11 and was not significantly different (Z=0.41, p=.680). But the difference in nCPAP for nasal Synchronizes Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilator (nSIPPV) (subgroup) was significant (SMD=-.44). The effect size of 7 studies on effect for ventilator weaning of using nCPAP compared to nIPPV showed the Risk Ratio (RR) as 1.60 and was not significantly different (Z=1.12, p=.268). But the difference between nCPAP and nSIPPV (subgroup) was significant (RR=3.94). Conclusion: The results indicate a need for an advanced care system and suggest continuous studies of apnea in preterm infants.