Descent of fetal head during active pushing: secondary analysis of prospective cohort study investigating ultrasound examination before operative vaginal delivery

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if descent of the fetal head during active pushing is associated with duration of operative vaginal delivery, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor, conducted between November 2013 and July 2016 in five European countries. Fetal head descent was measured using transperineal ultrasound. Head-perineum distance (HPD) was measured between contractions and on maximum contraction during active pushing, and the difference between these values (ΔHPD) was calculated. The main outcome was duration of operative vaginal delivery, estimated using survival analysis to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for vaginal delivery, with values > 1 indicating a shorter duration. HR was adjusted for prepregnancy body mass index, maternal age, induction of labor, augmentation with oxytocin and use of epidural analgesia. Pregnancies were grouped according to ΔHPD quartile, and delivery mode and neonatal outcome were compared between groups.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 204 women. Duration of vacuum extraction was shorter with increasing ΔHPD. Estimated mean duration was 10.0, 9.0, 8.8 and 7.5 min in pregnancies with ΔHPD in the first to fourth quartiles, respectively, and the adjusted HR for vaginal delivery, using increasing ΔHPD as a continuous variable, was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01-1.08). Mean ΔHPD was 7 mm (range, -10 to 37 mm). ΔHPD was either negative or ≤ 2 mm in the lowest quartile. In this group, 7/50 (14%) pregnancies were delivered by Cesarean section, compared with 8/154 (5%) of those with ΔHPD > 2 mm (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between umbilical artery pH < 7.10 or 5-min Apgar score < 7 and ΔHPD quartile.

CONCLUSION

Minimal or no fetal head descent during active pushing was associated with longer duration of operative vaginal delivery and higher frequency of Cesarean section in nulliparous women with prolonged second stage of labor. © 2019 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Overweight in childhood and adolescence: Does it lead to airway hyperresponsiveness in adulthood?

BACKGROUND

Obesity is increasing worldwide among children and adolescents, and has been associated with an increased incidence of asthma. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVE

In this cohort study we aimed to investigate whether being overweight in childhood and adolescence is associated with an increased risk of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), a hallmark of asthma, in early adulthood.

METHODS

Of 527 subjects from a random population sample of children and adolescents (7-17 years) examined at baseline, a total of 184 subjects completed the follow-up visit 20 years later and were included in the present analysis. Both visits included assessment of height and weight, case history and spirometry. At both visits, bronchial provocation tests were performed using either histamine (baseline) or methacholine (follow-up). In addition, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured at follow-up.

RESULTS

No significant difference in the prevalence of AHR at follow-up was found between subjects who were overweight or obese at baseline visit (n = 26) (pediatric definition, body mass index ≥ 85%percentile) and normal weight subjects (n = 158) (positive bronchial provocation tests: 15.4% vs. 22.2%, respectively, p = 0.35). Likewise, follow-up FeNO levels did not differ significantly between subjects who were lean and those who were overweight or obese at baseline (geometric mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) 15.1 (13.7, 16.6) parts per billion (ppb) versus 13.0 (10.6, 15.9) ppb, p = 0.23).

CONCLUSION

In children and adolescents, being obese or overweight seems not to be associated with an increased risk of AHR or increased FeNO levels in early adulthood.

Chronic mucus hypersecretion: prevalence and risk factors in younger individuals

SETTING

Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) is a common condition in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Little is known about the incidence, prevalence and determinants of CMH in younger individuals.

OBJECTIVE

To determine prevalence, incidence and risk factors for CMH in a young general population.

DESIGN

A cohort of Danish twins (aged 12-41 years) was prospectively examined using questionnaires in 1994 (n = 29 180) and in 2002 (n = 21 130). Prevalence and incidence of CMH were determined, and risk factors for the condition were assessed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Lifetime prevalence of CMH was 8.6% in females and 6.9% in males in 1994, and the cumulative incidence among females and males was respectively 10.7% and 8.7% during the study period. Smoking and asthma were risk factors for CMH, with a dose-response effect of tobacco consumption, and smoking habits also predicting incidence of CMH.

CONCLUSION

Among the young, CMH is a condition related to asthma and smoking, with a dose-response relationship with tobacco consumption and a relation between smoking habits and incidence. Female susceptibility to development of CMH was observed, as well as signs of greater susceptibility related to young age.

A 3-year longitudinal study of asthma quality of life in undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma patients

SETTING

Juniper's Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire with standardised activities (AQLQ(S)) is commonly used to evaluate the effect of interventions in pharmaceutical trials, but rarely, if ever, used clinically in long-term follow-up of undiagnosed or diagnosed asthma patients.

DESIGN

The AQLQ(S) was administered to 493 asthma patients who were randomised to treatment in primary or specialist care over a 3-year period.

RESULTS

Of the 493 patients, 249 had not been diagnosed before screening and 244 had a doctor's diagnosis of asthma. At entry, known patients had a lower total AQLQ(S) score (median 6.03, 95%CI 3.9-7.0) than undiagnosed patients (median 6.54, 95%CI 4.8-7.0, P < 0.001). Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids induced lower scores (median 5.7, 95%CI 3.5-7.0) than no treatment (median 6.5, 95%CI 4.8-7.0, P < 0.01). Half of the patients (n = 260) were randomly invited to participate in a follow-up survey in a specialist setting. In the first 3 months of follow-up, a decrease in AQLQ(S) score among the undiagnosed patients (median -0.24, 95%CI -1.6-0.9, P = 0.02) was observed. After 3 years, the score improved significantly (by >0.5 points) in 45% of the undiagnosed patients (n = 107) compared to 26% of the known patients (n = 116, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The initial total AQLQ(S) score was higher in undiagnosed asthma patients. After diagnosis the AQLQ(S) initially decreased but then increased, followed by an overall improvement that exceeded that of the known asthma patients.