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Gardosi J, Hugh O. Stillbirth risk and smallness for gestational age according to Hadlock, INTERGROWTH-21st, WHO, and GROW fetal weight standards: analysis by maternal ethnicity and body mass index. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:547.e1-547.e13. [PMID: 37247647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate growth charts are essential for fetal surveillance, to confirm that growth is proceeding normally and to identify pregnancies that are at risk. Many stillbirths are avoidable through antenatal detection of the small-for-gestational-age fetus. In the absence of an international consensus on which growth chart to use, it is essential that clinical practice reflects outcome-based evidence. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the performance of 4 internationally used fetal weight standards and their ability to identify stillbirth risk in different ethnic and maternal size groups of a heterogeneous population. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed routinely collected maternity data from more than 2.2 million pregnancies. Three population-based fetal weight standards (Hadlock, Intergrowth-21st, and World Health Organization) were compared with the customized GROW standard that was adjusted for maternal height, weight, parity, and ethnic origin. Small-for-gestational-age birthweight and stillbirth risk were determined for the 2 largest ethnic groups in our population (British European and South Asian), in 5 body mass index categories, and in 4 maternal size groups with normal body mass index (18.5-25.0 kg/m2). The differences in trend between stillbirth and small-for-gestational-age rates were assessed using the Clogg z test, and differences between stillbirths and body mass index groups were assessed using the chi-square trend test. RESULTS Stillbirth rates (per 1000) were higher in South Asian pregnancies (5.51) than British-European pregnancies (3.89) (P<.01) and increased in both groups with increasing body mass index (P<.01). Small-for-gestational-age rates were 2 to 3-fold higher for South Asian babies than British European babies according to the population-average standards (Hadlock: 26.2% vs 12.2%; Intergrowth-21st: 12.1% vs 4.9%; World Health Organization: 32.2% vs 16.0%) but were similar by the customized GROW standard (14.0% vs 13.6%). Despite the wide variation, each standard's small-for-gestation-age cases had increased stillbirth risk compared with non-small-for-gestation-age cases, with the magnitude of risk inversely proportional to the rate of cases defined as small for gestational age. All standards had similar stillbirth risk when the small-for-gestation-age rate was fixed at 10% by varying their respective thresholds for defining small for gestational age. When analyzed across body mass index subgroups, the small-for-gestation-age rate according to the GROW standard increased with increasing stillbirth rate, whereas small-for-gestation-age rates according to Hadlock, Intergrowth-21st, and World Health Organization fetal weight standards declined with increasing body mass index, showing a difference in trend (P<.01) to stillbirth rates across body mass index groups. In the normal body mass index subgroup, stillbirth rates showed little variation across maternal size groups; this trend was followed by GROW-based small-for-gestation-age rates, whereas small-for-gestation-age rates defined by each population-average standard declined with increasing maternal size. CONCLUSION Comparisons between population-average and customized fetal growth charts require examination of how well each standard identifies pregnancies at risk of adverse outcomes within subgroups of any heterogeneous population. In both ethnic groups studied, increasing maternal body mass index was accompanied by increasing stillbirth risk, and this trend was reflected in more pregnancies being identified as small for gestational age only by the customized standard. In contrast, small-for-gestation-age rates fell according to each population-average standard, thereby hiding the increased stillbirth risk associated with high maternal body mass index.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Hugh
- Perinatal Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Farrell T, Minisha F, Abu Yaqoub S, Rahim AA, Omar M, Ahmed H, Lindow S, Abraham MR, Gassim M, Al-Dewik N, Ahmed S, Al-Rifai H. Impact of timing and severity of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy on intrauterine fetal growth- a registry-based study from Qatar. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288004. [PMID: 37390057 PMCID: PMC10313033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted pregnant women, increasing maternal and neonatal morbidity. The placenta is a potential target for the pathophysiological processes due to the increased thrombotic inflammatory activation and inadequate uteroplacental perfusion and oxygenation, potentially causing intrauterine growth restriction. This study investigates the impact of gestational age at diagnosis of COVID-19 and the presence of symptoms on intrauterine fetal growth in pregnant women. METHODS A retrospective review of COVID-19 positive pregnant women in Qatar from March 2020 to March 2021 was conducted. They were divided based on trimester of pregnancy in which they were infected. The outcomes included birthweight, customised fetal birthweight centiles, small for gestational age (SGA) baby and daily growth increments, compared between the trimesters and between symptomatic and asymptomatic women. RESULTS In our cohort, 218 women (20.5%) were infected in the first trimester, 399 (37.5%) in the second and 446 (42%) in the third. Women in the second trimester were significantly younger and symptomatic. Women infected in the first trimester were least likely to have diabetes. The mean birthweight, risk of SGA (11.5% vs 10% vs 14.6%, p = 0.302), and median customized growth centiles (47.6% vs 45.9% vs 46.1%)were similar between the groups. Symptomatic women had significantly lower mean birthweight (3147 gms vs 3222 gms) and median birthweight centiles (43.9% vs 54.0%)compared to the asymptomatic (p<0.05 for both). In women infected within 20 weeks of gestation, a delay in daily fetal growth increments was noted with symptomatic disease, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSION This study shows that women with symptomatic disease had lower birth centiles and birth weights. This was regardless of the gestational age at which they were infected. Early symptomatic disease seems to have an impact on fetal growth velocity; however, larger studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Farrell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fathima Minisha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Salwa Abu Yaqoub
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abubaker Abdel Rahim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mai Omar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Huda Ahmed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Stephen Lindow
- Director of Master’s Projects, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Merlin Rajam Abraham
- Department of Research, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mahmoud Gassim
- Department of Pharmacology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nader Al-Dewik
- Department of Research, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shamsa Ahmed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hilal Al-Rifai
- Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Wellness and Research Centre, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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Butler E, Hugh O, Gardosi J. Evaluating the Growth Assessment Protocol for stillbirth prevention: progress and challenges. J Perinat Med 2022; 50:737-747. [PMID: 35618671 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Many stillbirths are associated with fetal growth restriction, and are hence potentially avoidable. The Growth Assessment Protocol (GAP) is a multidisciplinary program with an evidence based care pathway, training in risk assessment, fetal growth surveillance with customised charts and rolling audit. Antenatal detection of small for gestational age (SGA) has become an indicator of quality of care. Evaluation is essential to understand the impact of such a prevention program. Randomised trials will not be effective if they cannot ensure proper implementation before assessment. Observational studies have allowed realistic evaluation in practice, with other factors excluded that may have influenced the outcome. An award winning 10 year study of stillbirth data in England has been able to assess the effect of GAP in isolation, and found a strong, causal association with improved antenatal detection of SGA babies, and the sustained decline in national stillbirth rates. The challenge now is to apply this program more widely in low and middle income settings where the main global burden of stillbirth is, and to adapt it to local needs and resources.
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Hocquette A, Monier I, Blondel B, Dufourg MN, Heude B, Zeitlin J. Testing the assumptions of customized intrauterine growth charts using national birth studies. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2022; 101:405-416. [PMID: 35224718 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Customized intrauterine growth charts are widely used for growth monitoring and research. They are based on three assumptions: (1) estimated fetal weight (EFW) has a normal distribution with a constant coefficient of variation at all gestational ages; (2) Hadlock's growth curve accurately describes the relation between EFW and gestational ages; (3) associations between EFW and the fetal and maternal characteristics included in the customization model (fetal sex, pre-pregnancy weight, height, parity) are proportional throughout pregnancy. The aim of this study was to test whether these underlying assumptions are verified. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data came from (1) the French Longitudinal Study of Children (ELFE) cohort, which recruited births after 32 weeks' gestation in 349 maternity hospitals in France in 2011, and (2) the National Perinatal Survey, which included births from all French maternity hospitals in 2016. The study population included, respectively, 6 920 and 8 969 singleton non-malformed term live births with data on customization characteristics and EFW. We computed the coefficient of variation by gestational age and then modeled the association of gestational age, maternal and fetal characteristics with EFW at the second and third trimester ultrasound and with birthweight using linear regression. To assess the proportionality of the impact of maternal and fetal characteristics, we computed the percent change in weight associated with these characteristics at these three time points. RESULTS The coefficient of variation was close to 12% at each gestational age, but EFW was not normally distributed, leading to small but systematic underestimation of fetuses under the 10th percentile. Weights representing the 50th and 10th percentiles based on Hadlock's growth trajectory were lower than observed or predicted weights. Most characteristics more strongly impacted weight at birth than during pregnancy. In the French Longitudinal study of Children (ELFE) cohort, boys were 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-2.4) heavier than girls in the third trimester, whereas this percentage was 4.6% (95% CI 4.0-5.2) at birth. In the National Perinatal Survey, these percentages were 2.3% (95% CI 1.8-2.8) and 4.3% (95% CI 3.8-4.8). CONCLUSIONS These results from two independent sources revealed discrepancies between routine clinical EFW data used for growth monitoring and the customized growth model's assumptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Hocquette
- CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Monier
- CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antoine Béclère Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris Saclay, Clamart, France
| | - Béatrice Blondel
- CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Barbara Heude
- Research Team on the Early Life Origins of Health (EAROH), Center for Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, Université de Paris, Villejuif, France
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, INSERM, INRA, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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Nasri K, Hantoushzadeh S, Hugh O, Heidarzadeh M, Habibelahi A, Shariat M, Tara F, Kashanian M, Radmehr M, Yekaninejad MS, Homeira VC, Francis A, Gardosi J. Customized birthweight standard for an Iranian population. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:3651-3656. [PMID: 31766924 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1689557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To produce a customized birthweight standard for Iran.Method: Retrospective study of a pregnancy database collected from five hospitals across Iran. The cohort consisted of 4994 consecutive term births with complete data, delivered between July 2013 and November 2014. Coefficients were derived using a backwards stepwise multiple regression technique.Results: Maternal height, weight in early pregnancy and parity as well as the baby's sex were identified as significant physiological variables affecting birthweight. Paternal height and weight were also significant although weaker factors. The expected 280-day birthweight, free from pathological influences, of a standard size mother (height 163 cm, weight 64 kg) in her first pregnancy was 3390 g. Pathological factors found to affect birthweight in this cohort included village housing, anemia, preexisting and gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.Conclusion: The analysis confirmed the main physiological variables that affect birthweight in other countries and shows paternal factors also to be significant variables. Development of a country-specific customized birthweight standard will aid clinicians in Iran to distinguish between fetuses that are either constitutionally or pathologically small, thereby avoiding unnecessary interventions, and improving identification of at-risk pregnancies and perinatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nasri
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - S Hantoushzadeh
- Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal and Breast-Feeding Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - O Hugh
- Perinatal Institute, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - M Shariat
- Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal and Breast-Feeding Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Tara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - M Kashanian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Akbar Abadi Teaching Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Radmehr
- Clinical Research Center, Milad General Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - M S Yekaninejad
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - V C Homeira
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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