Efficacy of acetaminophen compared to ibuprofen for patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the included trials, mean ± SD

Ref.	Sample size	Gestational age (week)	Birth weight (g)	Acetaminophen regimens	Ibuprofen regimens
Balachander et al[19], 2020	110	Acetaminophen group (31.58 ± 2.9), ibuprofen group (31.54 ± 2.9)	Acetaminophen group (1534.8 ± 408.2), ibuprofen group (1513.4 ± 414.9)	15 mg/kg/6 hours via orogastric tube or paladai for 2 days	10 mg/kg stat on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day later for 2 days
Dani et al[20], 2021	101	Acetaminophen group (28.2 ± 1.4), ibuprofen group (28.4 ± 2.0)	Acetaminophen group (1022 ± 266), ibuprofen group (1068 ± 278)	IV 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	IV 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Dang et al[21], 2013	160	Acetaminophen group (31.2 ± 1.8), ibuprofen group (31.2 ± 1.8)	Acetaminophen group (1591.9 ± 348.6), ibuprofen group (1531.0 ± 453.5)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Sinol et al[22], 2020	140	Acetaminophen group (29.7 ± 1.67), ibuprofen group (29.3 ± 1.38)	Acetaminophen group (1150 ± 950), ibuprofen group (1120 ±115)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day for 3 days
Charanthimath et al[23], 2025	50	NR	NR	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day for 3 days
Bagheri et al[24], 2016	129	Acetaminophen group (31.53 ± 2.31), ibuprofen group (31.7 ± 2.24)	Acetaminophen group (1646.26 ± 59.14), ibuprofen group (1642.62 ± 58.46)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 20 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 10 mg/kg/day
Samadi et al[25], 2022	90	Acetaminophen group (29 ± 1.5), ibuprofen group (29 ± 1.5)	Acetaminophen group (1000 ± 185), ibuprofen group (950 ± 156)	Oral 10 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-3
Kumar et al[26], 2020	161	Acetaminophen group (28.7 ±1.6), ibuprofen group (28.7 ± 1.7)	Acetaminophen group (1167 ± 249), ibuprofen group (1129 ± 268)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Shah et al[27], 2025	256	Acetaminophen group (33.31 ±1.99), ibuprofen group (33.51 ± 2.10)	Acetaminophen group (1638.58 ± 140.60), ibuprofen group (1612.20 ± 141.80)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Al-Lawama et al[28], 2018	22	Acetaminophen group (28 ± 2.7), ibuprofen group (28 ± 3.37)	Acetaminophen group (1059 ± 386), ibuprofen group (1192 ± 269)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day for 3 days
Yang et al[29], 2016	87	Acetaminophen group (33.6 ± 2.1), ibuprofen group (33.4 ± 2.1)	Acetaminophen group (2219 ± 606), ibuprofen group (2091 ± 657)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Arif et al[30], 2021	150	Acetaminophen group (29.12 ± 7.44), ibuprofen group (30.09 ± 4.66)	Acetaminophen group (1487.1 ± 581.4), ibuprofen group (1501.4 ± 359.8)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Asadpour et al[31], 2018	50	NR	NR	Oral 10 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-3
Jafari et al[32], 2019	30	NR	NR	IV 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	IV 10 mg/kg/day on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-3
El-Mashad et al[36], 2017	200	Acetaminophen group (26 ± 1.9), ibuprofen group (25 ± 2.1)	Acetaminophen group (1100 ± 130), ibuprofen group (1000 ± 120)	IV 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	IV 10 mg/kg/day on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-3
El-Farrash et al[33], 2019	60	Acetaminophen group (30.53 ± 1.55), ibuprofen group (31.73 ± 1.98)	Acetaminophen group (1530 ± 560), ibuprofen group (1740 ± 470)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day on day 1, followed by 5 mg/kg/day on days 2-3
Oncel et al[34], 2014	80	Acetaminophen group (27.3 ± 1.7), ibuprofen group (27.3 ± 2.1)	Acetaminophen group (931 ± 217), ibuprofen group (973 ± 224)	Oral 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	Oral 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day
Meena et al[35], 2020	70	Acetaminophen group (32.14 ± 2.01), ibuprofen group (31.42 ± 1.72)	Acetaminophen group (1440 ± 340), ibuprofen group (1340 ± 220)	IV 15 mg/kg/6 hours for 3 days	IV 10 mg/kg/day initially, followed by 5 mg/kg/day

NR: Not report; IV: Intravenous.