Title: Prepregnancy health status and the risk of preterm delivery.

POPLINE Document Number: 277026

Author(s):

Haas JS
Fuentes-Afflick E
Stewart AL
Jackson RA
Dean ML

Source citation:

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2005;159:58-63.

Abstract:

Background: Despite extensive evaluation, our understanding of risk factors for premature delivery is incomplete. Objective: To examine whether a woman's health status and risk factors before pregnancy are associated with a woman's risk of preterm delivery, independent of risk factors that occur during pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective cohort of pregnant women in the San Francisco Bay area who delivered a singleton infant (n = 1619). Main Outcome Measure: Preterm delivery (<37 weeks' gestational age). Results: Sociodemographic characteristics alone explained 13.0% of the risk of preterm delivery, whereas risk factors that occurred before pregnancy explained 39.8% and risk factors that occurred during pregnancy explained 47.1%. After we adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, prepregnancy risk factors, and pregnancy risk factors, women who reported poor physical function during the month before conception were nearly twice as likely to experience a preterm delivery (odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.30) as women with better physical function. Conclusion: A broader focus on the health of women prior to pregnancy may improve rates of preterm delivery. (author's)

Keywords:

United States
Research Report
Clinical Research
Prospective Studies
Cohort Analysis
Pregnant Women
Premature Birth
Risk Factors
Maternal Health
Demographic Factors
Pregnancy Complications
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Research Methodology
Studies
Population Characteristics
Population
Pregnancy Outcomes
Pregnancy
Reproduction
Biology
Health
Diseases