Preterm birth-associated factors analysis: A cross-sectional study in 2015

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the current clinical factors associated with preterm birth in women delivering newborn infants in a tertiary medical center of a modern city. Methods: The medical records of women who delivered newborn infants in a tertiary medical center in Taipei city in 2015 were reviewed. To compare with the full-term group, the preterm group was defined by gestations of <37 weeks. Maternal characteristics, pregnant histories, underlying diseases, and peripartum conditions of enrolled mothers and the characteristics of their newborn infants were recorded and analyzed. Odds ratios (OR) were analyzed using logistic regression for factors associated with preterm deliveries. Results: A total of 1729 pregnant women (15–48 years) gave birth during the study period, including 1520 full-term and 209 (12.1%) preterm deliveries, accounting for 1778 newborns with 49 pairs of twins. After multivariate analysis, the following significant factors were found to be associated with preterm birth: multiple pregnancy (OR, 26.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 12.7–55.4]), presence of maternal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (OR, 10.4; 95% CI, 2.3–46.2), preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR, 7.6; 95% CI, 3.9–14.8), tocolysis requirement (OR, 6.6; 95% CI, 4.6–9.7), infection (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7–3.5), maternal diabetes (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0–4.4), and low maternal height (<155 cm) (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4–3.4). The preterm group also had more maternal blood loss (623 ± 543 vs. 399 ± 375 mL, P < 0.05) and a higher ratio of cesarean sections (59.3% vs. 26.8%, P < 0.05) than the full-term group. Conclusion: Multiple pregnancy, tocolysis requirement, lower maternal height (<155 cm), and the presence of maternal diseases during pregnancy, including SLE, preeclampsia/eclampsia, infection, and maternal diabetes, are significantly associated with preterm birth in Taipei city.