A mean body temperature of 37 degrees C for incubated preterm infants is associated with lower energy costs in the first 11days of life

International audienceAimThis randomised trial compared the energy costs of providing incubated preterm infants born before 32weeks of gestation with homeothermia using either air temperature control (ATC) or skin servocontrol (SSC). MethodsWe studied 38 incubated preterm infants for the first 11days of life, calculating the frequency of hypothermia (37.5 degrees C) and thermal challenge, together with energy costs, based on a change in incubator air temperature of 2 degrees C above or below thermoneutrality. ResultsThe daily mean incubator air temperature was higher in ATC than SSC (p<0.05) for the first 6days, and the mean body temperature was higher in ATC (37.00.03 degrees C) than SSC (36.8 +/- 0.02; p<0.01) over the whole study period. The frequency of moderate hyperthermia was higher in ATC (p<0.001), whereas warm and cold thermal challenges were higher in SSC (p<0.001). The two groups did not differ in terms of energy costs. The time to recover birthweight was shorter in ATC (p