Abstract
Aim: This study examines the influence of selected sociodemographic and pregnancy specific factors on the risk of Late Preterm Births (LPB) analyzing separately induced and spontaneous. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of LPB observed in 5 Italian Centers. Cases are 305 women who delivered at 34, 35 and 36 weeks gestation. The controls were 269 women who gave birth at term (>37 weeks of gestation). Results: Considering the total series, the risk of LPB was above unity in hypertensive women, but the OR was 6.70 (95% CI 3.25-13.82) in women with induced LPB and 0.90 (95% CI 0.35-2.32) in women with spontaneous LPB. Positive culture of vaginal smear was associated with an increased risk of LPB. Conclusions: According to our results hypertension increases the risk of medically indicated LPB while a history of preterm birth or positive vaginal smear are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous and induces LPB.
Highlights
Neonatal mortality and morbidity, early and late as well, are significantly higher in preterm births as compared with full term ones
Other morbidities are more frequently associated with late preterm birth when compared to infants born at term [4]
On the other hand it has been observed that the increased rate of Late Preterm Births (LPB) can be associated with lower rates of stillbirths and neonatal death [5]
Summary
Early and late as well, are significantly higher in preterm births (before 37 weeks of gestation) as compared with full term ones. Mortality rate among moderately preterm (32-33 weeks) is seven times and among late preterm (34-36 weeks) three times higher than that observed in term infants [2]. Other morbidities (intra ventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, NICU admission and sepsis) are more frequently associated with late preterm birth when compared to infants born at term [4]. This observation is a matter of concern. On the other hand it has been observed that the increased rate of Late Preterm Births (LPB) can be associated with lower rates of stillbirths and neonatal death [5]
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