Associations of temporal changes in cervical length and lower uterine segment length with spontaneous preterm delivery risk: a prospective study of 727 Japanese women

Prediction of Preterm Delivery by Ultrasound Measurement of Cervical Length and Funneling Changes of the Cervix in Pregnant Women with Preterm Labor at 28-34 weeks of Gestation

The present study aims at predicting preterm delivery by ultrasound measurement of cervical length and the funneling changes of the cervix in preterm labor pregnant women at 28-34 weeks of gestation. The present study is an observational-analytical study with a prospective cohort design. The statistical population of this study includes 70 preterm labor pregnant women who were referred to Tehran hospitals from March 2018 to March 2020. The case group includes 35 women who had short cervical length as well as the funneling changes of the cervix. The control group includes 35 patients whose cervical length was normal and lacked the funneling changes of the cervix. The samples were analyzed after being collected. The mean age of mothers was 29.22 years in the short cervical length group (SD=4.64) and 28.45 years in the normal cervical length group (SD=4.59). The mean length of cervical length was 17.34 mm in the short cervical length group (SD=5.64) and 38.74 mm in the normal cervical length group (SD=4.53). In the case group, the delivery occurred two or seven days after the first visit; as for the proper cervical length group without funneling changes, the delivery occurred 14 days after the first delivery. Thus, the difference is statistically significant (P=0.00). In terms of the preterm delivery before week 34, there was also a significant difference between the short and normal cervical length group, as well as the groups with the funnel-shaped and non-funnel-shaped cervix (P=0.00). However, in terms of post-term delivery before week 37, there was no significant difference between short and normal cervical length groups as well as funneled and non-funneled groups (P=0.78). In terms of term labor, there was a significant difference between short and normal cervical length groups, as well as funneled and non-funneled groups (P=0.00). In investigating the cut-off point with good sensitivity, it was indicated that the cervical length and cervical funneling in pregnant women at risk predict preterm labor before week 34. With the measurement of cervical length and diagnosis of cervical funneling by applying ultrasound, preterm delivery before week 34 can be predicted. Therefore, neonatal mortality and morbidity rates can be reduced in this way.