Background: As a noninvasive respiratory support mode, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is widely used in preterm infants at neonatal care units. HFNC is often used as an alternative to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) for initial or post-extubation respiratory support. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of HFNC and NCPAP for respiratory support in preterm infants. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library,...