Positive fluid balance and diuretic therapy are associated with mechanical ventilation and mortality in preterm neonates in the first fourteen postnatal days.

Positive fluid balance negatively impacts pulmonary status. The odds of MV and death increase significantly as peak fluid balance percentage increases in all GA groups. The impact of diuretics on MV and death in preterm neonates needs further evaluation. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.