Substandard care in antepartum term stillbirths: prospective cohort study

Antenatal detection of fetal growth restriction and risk of stillbirth: population-based case-control study

OBJECTIVES

Antenatal surveillance of intrauterine growth aims to detect growth-restricted fetuses (FGR), which face increased risk of stillbirth. Improving their detection could be an effective strategy for prevention of stillbirth. The French REPERE study was conducted to estimate the association between antenatal detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth.

METHODS

REPERE is a case-control study performed in three French districts with a combined total of approximately 30 000 births annually. Cases were singleton small-for-gestational-age (SGA) stillbirths ≥ 24 weeks' gestation and without severe congenital anomaly, between 2012 and 2014, identified using a population-based stillbirth registry; controls were live births fulfilling the same inclusion criteria over a 9-week period from 7 April to 8 June 2014. Data were extracted by trained investigators from medical records and ultrasound reports. SGA was defined as birth weight < 10^th percentile of French customized standards. FGR was defined by the presence of at least one of seven predefined parameters (suspected FGR mentioned in medical records or in ultrasound report, suspected faltering growth mentioned in an ultrasound report, documented abdominal circumference or estimated fetal weight < 10^th percentile, referral for additional ultrasound examination to monitor growth or abnormal umbilical artery Doppler). We used logistic regression to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the association between detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth. Included covariables were parity, maternal medical history, vascular complications during pregnancy and birth-weight percentile, which are known to be associated with risk of detection of FGR and of stillbirth.

RESULTS

During the study period, there were 92 182 births ≥ 22 weeks' gestation, including 669 stillbirths, of which 79 were singleton SGA stillbirths ≥ 24 weeks and without severe congenital anomaly. Of these cases, 44.3% (35/79) had FGR detected, compared with a detection rate of 36.2% in controls (154/426). The crude OR expressing the association between detection of FGR and risk of stillbirth was 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9-2.3) and the OR adjusted for parity, presence of risk factors for FGR, presence of vascular disorder and birth-weight percentile was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-1.0). Among deliveries ≥ 28 weeks, detection rates were 38.3% vs 36.0% for cases and controls, with an adjusted OR of 0.5 (95% CI, 0.2-1.0).

CONCLUSION

Antenatal detection of FGR was protective against stillbirth, but over 40% of stillbirths among SGA fetuses occurred despite detection of FGR, pointing to the need to improve management following detection. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Routine induction in late-term pregnancies: follow-up of a Danish induction of labour paradigm

OBJECTIVES

For many years, routine elective induction of labour at gestational week (GW) 42+0 has been recommended in Denmark. In 2011, a more proactive protocol was introduced aimed at reducing stillbirths, and practice changed into earlier routine induction, i.e. between 41+3 and 41+5 GW. The present study evaluates a national change in induction of labour regime. The trend of maternal and neonatal consequences are monitored in the preintervention period (2000-2010) compared with the postintervention period (2012-2016).

DESIGN

A national retrospective register-based cohort study.

SETTING

Denmark.

PARTICIPANTS

All births in Denmark 41+3 to 45+0 GWs between 2000 and 2016 (N = 152 887).

OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcomes: stillbirths, perinatal death, and low Apgar scores. Additional outcomes: birth interventions and maternal outcomes.

RESULTS

For the primary outcomes, no differences in stillbirths, perinatal death, and low Apgar scores were found comparing the preintervention and postintervention period. Of additional outcomes, the trend changed significantly postintervention concerning use of augmentation of labour, epidural analgesia, induction of labour and uterine rupture (all p<0.05). There was no significant change in the trend for caesarean section and instrumental birth. Most notable for clinical practice was the increase in induction of labour from 41% to 65% (p<0.01) at 41+3 weeks during 2011 as well as the rare occurrence of uterine ruptures (from 2.6 to 4.2 per thousand, p<0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of a more proactive regimen recommending induction of labour from GW 41+3 compared with 42+0 using national register data found no differences in neonatal outcomes including stillbirth. The number of women with induced labour increased significantly.

Risk factors and causes of stillbirths among pregnant women in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Globally 3 million stillbirths occur per year, and Pakistan is ranked 3rd among the countries having the highest burden. Despite being a major public health problem, efforts to reduce this figure are insufficient.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to identify and measure the inequalities in stillbirth associated risk factors, causes and fertility risk behaviors.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHS) 1990-2013. Inequalities on determinants were evaluated using rate differences and rate ratios; time trends computed with annualized reduction rate (ARR).

RESULTS

Overall ARR determined for stillbirth was -12.52 percent per annum. The high ARR were recorded for mothers age <20, urban areas, educated mothers and for highest wealth quintile. The relative inequalities were most pronounced for wealth quintiles, education and age of mothers. Stillbirth causes were unexplained antepartum (33%), unexplained intrapartum (21%), intrapartum asphyxia (21%) and antepartum maternal disorders (19%). The high fertility risk behavior was found in mothers with age >34 and birth order >3.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that to achieve gain in child survival, there is need to promote antenatal care, birth spacing, and family planning programs in developing countries.

Knowledge Gaps and Emerging Research Areas in Intrauterine Growth Restriction-Associated Brain Injury

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a complex global healthcare issue. Concerted research and clinical efforts have improved our knowledge of the neurodevelopmental sequelae of IUGR which has raised the profile of this complex problem. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of therapies to prevent the substantial rates of fetal demise or the constellation of permanent neurological deficits that arise from IUGR. The purpose of this article is to highlight the clinical and translational gaps in our knowledge that hamper our collective efforts to improve the neurological sequelae of IUGR. Also, we draw attention to cutting-edge tools and techniques that can provide novel insights into this disorder, and technologies that offer the potential for better drug design and delivery. We cover topics including: how we can improve our use of crib-side monitoring options, what we still need to know about inflammation in IUGR, the necessity for more human post-mortem studies, lessons from improved integrated histology-imaging analyses regarding the cell-specific nature of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals, options to improve risk stratification with genomic analysis, and treatments mediated by nanoparticle delivery which are designed to modify specific cell functions.

Declines in stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates in Europe between 2004 and 2010: results from the Euro-Peristat project

Background

Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates declined in Europe between 2004 and 2010. We hypothesised that declines might be greater for countries with higher mortality in 2004 and disproportionally affect very preterm infants at highest risk.

Methods

Data about live births, stillbirths and neonatal deaths by gestational age (GA) were collected using a common protocol by the Euro-Peristat project in 2004 and 2010. We analysed stillbirths at ≥28 weeks GA in 22 countries and live births ≥24 weeks GA for neonatal mortality in 18 countries. Per cent changes over time were assessed by calculating risk ratios (RR) for stillbirth, neonatal mortality and preterm birth rates in 2010 vs 2004. We used meta-analysis techniques to derive pooled RR using random-effects models overall, by GA subgroups and by mortality level in 2004.

Results

Between 2004 and 2010, stillbirths declined by 17% (95% CI 10% to 23%), with a range from 1% to 39% by country. Neonatal mortality declined by 29% (95% CI 23% to 35%) with a range from 9% to 67%. Preterm birth rates did not change: 0% (95% CI −3% to 3%). Mortality declines were of a similar magnitude at all GA; mortality levels in 2004 were not associated with RRs.

Conclusions

Stillbirths and neonatal deaths declined at all gestational ages in countries with both high and low levels of mortality in 2004. These results raise questions about how low-mortality countries achieve continued declines and highlight the importance of improving care across the GA spectrum.

Risk factors for antepartum stillbirth: a case-control study in Nepal

Background

Globally, at least 2.65 million stillbirths occur every year, of which more than half are during the antepartum period. The proportion of intrapartum stillbirths has substantially declined with improved obstetric care; however, the number of antepartum stillbirths has not decreased as greatly. Attempts to lower this number may be hampered by an incomplete understanding of the risk factors leading to the majority of antepartum stillbirths. We conducted this study in a tertiary hospital in Nepal to identify the specific risk factors that are associated with antepartum stillbirth in this setting.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted between July 2012 and September 2013. All women who had antepartum stillbirths during this period were included as cases, while 20 % of all women delivering at the hospital were randomly selected and included as referents. Information on potential risk factors was taken from medical records and interviews with the women. Logistic regression analysis was completed to determine the association between those risk factors and antepartum stillbirth.

Results

During the study period, 4567 women who delivered at the hospital were enrolled as referents, of which 62 had antepartum stillbirths and were re-categorized into the case population. In total, there were 307 antepartum stillbirths. An association was found between the following risk factors and antepartum stillbirth: increasing maternal age (aOR 1.0, 95 % CI 1.0–1.1), less than five years of maternal education (aOR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.7–3.2), increasing parity (aOR 1.2, 95 % CI 1.0–1.3), previous stillbirth (aOR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.6–4.4), no antenatal care attendance (aOR 4.2, 95 % CI 3.2–5.4), belonging to the poorest family (aOR 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0–1.8), antepartum hemorrhage (aOR 3.7, 95 % CI 2.4–5.7), maternal hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (aOR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.5–3.1), and small weight-for-gestational age babies (aOR 1.5, 95 % CI 1.2–2.0).

Conclusion

Lack of antenatal care attendance, which had the strongest association with antepartum stillbirth, is a potentially modifiable risk factor, in that increasing the access to and availability of these services can be targeted. Antenatal care attendance provides an opportunity to screen for other potential risk factors for antepartum stillbirth, as well as to provide counseling to women, and thus, helps to ensure a successful pregnancy outcome.

Clinical trial registration

ISRCTN97846009 (url. www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN97846009)

Placental pathology in full-term infants with hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy and association with magnetic resonance imaging pattern of brain injury

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between placental pathology and pattern of brain injury in full-term infants with neonatal encephalopathy after a presumed hypoxic-ischemic insult.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group comprised full-term infants with neonatal encephalopathy subsequent to presumed hypoxia-ischemia with available placenta for analysis who underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within the first 15 days after birth. Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the placenta were assessed. The infants were classified according to the predominant pattern of brain injury detected on MRI: no injury, predominant white matter/watershed injury, predominant basal ganglia and thalami (BGT) injury, or white matter/watershed injury with BGT involvement. Maternal and perinatal clinical factors were recorded.

RESULTS

Placental tissue was available for analysis in 95 of 171 infants evaluated (56%). Among these 95 infants, 34 had no cerebral abnormalities on MRI, 27 had white matter/watershed injury, 18 had BGT injury, and 16 had white matter/watershed injury with BGT involvement. Chorioamnionitis was a common placental finding in both the infants without injury (59%) and those with white matter/BGT injury (56%). On multinomial logistic regression analysis, white matter/watershed injury with and without BGT involvement was associated with decreased placental maturation. Hypoglycemia was associated with an increased risk of the white matter/BGT injury pattern (OR,5.4; 95% CI, 1.4-21.4). The BGT injury pattern was associated with chronic villitis (OR, 12.7; 95% CI, 2.4-68.7). A placental weight <10th percentile appeared to be protective against brain injury, especially for the BGT pattern (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.01-0.7).

CONCLUSION

Placental weight <10th percentile was mainly associated with normal cerebral MRI findings. Decreased placental maturation and hypoglycemia <2.0 mmol/L were associated with increased risk of white matter/watershed injury with or without BGT involvement. Chronic villitis was associated with BGT injury irrespective of white matter injury.