Conclusion
This systematic review found that administration of ACS is not associated with long-term effects on blood pressure in exposed human offspring. The effects on cardiac structure and other measures of cardiac function were unclear due to study heterogeneity mixed quality. Given the widespread use of ACS and the emerging preclinical evidence that ACS exposure compromises cardiac development, ascertaining their potential direct long-term effects on cardiovascular structure and function in exposed children should be a clinical priority going forward. We would therefore recommend further clinical research on the effects of ACS specifically on cardiac function in children both born preterm and at term.