Short stature—an independent risk factor for cesarean delivery

Abstract

Abstract Objective : The present study was aimed to investigate pregnancy outcome of patients with short stature (height Methods : A population-based study comparing pregnancy outcome of patients with and without short stature, was performed. Deliveries occurred during the years 1988–2002, in a tertiary medical center. Stratified analyses, using the Mantel–Haenszel technique, and a multiple logistic regression model were performed to control for confounders. Results : During the study period, 159,210 deliveries occurred. Of these, 5822 (3.65%) were of patients with short stature. Patients with short stature had statistically significant higher rates of CS compared with patients ≥155cm (21.3% versus 11.9%, odds ratio (OR)=2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9–2.1; P P P P P P P P P Conclusion : Short stature is an independent risk factor for Cesarean delivery. Further studies investigating the actual indication for CS should be performed in order to make an informed recommendation regarding the preferred mode of delivery in short parturient women.