Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Preterm Birth in the UK
Author Information
Author(s): Frances Conti-Ramsden, Jessica Fleminger, Julia Lanoue, Lucy C. Chappell, Cheryl Battersby
Primary Institution: King's College London
Hypothesis
What is the contribution of maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy to iatrogenic preterm birth and neonatal unit admissions in the UK?
Conclusion
Almost half of preterm births under 34 weeks' gestation are iatrogenic, with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy being a major contributor.
Supporting Evidence
- 13.5% of infants admitted to neonatal units had a maternal hypertensive disorder.
- 43.7% of infants had an iatrogenic onset of delivery.
- Over 90% of HDP infants received antenatal steroids.
Takeaway
This study found that many babies born too early are delivered because of health problems in their mothers, especially high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Methodology
Retrospective population-based study using the National Neonatal Research Database.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to missing data on maternal body mass index and other confounding factors.
Limitations
The study cannot comment on infants who die prior to admission to a neonatal unit, such as stillbirths and intrapartum deaths.
Participant Demographics
Infants born < 34+0 weeks' gestation admitted to NHS neonatal units in England and Wales from 2012 to 2020.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0005
Confidence Interval
95% CI 43.4%–43.9%
Statistical Significance
p<0.0005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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