Dataset Information

Tracking of fetal growth characteristics during different trimesters and the risks of adverse birth outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fetal growth characteristics are used to identify influences of several maternal characteristics and to identify individuals at increased risk of adverse outcomes. The extent to which fetal growth characteristics track in different trimesters is not known.

Methods

In a population-based prospective cohort study among 8636 pregnant women, we examined the extent to which fetal growth characteristics track, are influenced by maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle related determinants and are associated with birth outcomes. Fetal growth was assessed in each trimester and at birth.

Results

Correlation coefficient between first-trimester crown-rump length and birthweight was r = 0.12 (P-value < 0.05). Correlation coefficients for fetal-head circumference, (femur) length and (estimated) fetal weight ranged from r = 0.16 to r = 0.30 (all P-values < 0.05) between second trimester and birth and from r = 0.36 to r = 0.58 (all P-values < 0.05) between third trimester and birth, and were highest for (estimated) fetal weight. Correlation coefficients for (estimated) fetal weight tended to be lower among overweight mothers, as compared with normal weight mothers, but were not influenced by other maternal characteristics. First, second and third-trimester fetal growth characteristics were associated with risks of preterm birth and small size for gestational age at birth,with the strongest associations present in third trimester.

Conclusion

Fetal growth characteristics track moderately throughout gestation, with stronger tracking coefficients present in later pregnancy. Tracking coefficients were not materially influenced by maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. First, second and third trimester fetal growth characteristics were associated with the risk of adverse birth outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Gaillard R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4258770 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Tracking of fetal growth characteristics during different trimesters and the risks of adverse birth outcomes.

Gaillard Romy R Steegers Eric Ap EA de Jongste Johan C JC Hofman Albert A Jaddoe Vincent Wv VW

International journal of epidemiology 20140305 4

<h4>Background</h4>Fetal growth characteristics are used to identify influences of several maternal characteristics and to identify individuals at increased risk of adverse outcomes. The extent to which fetal growth characteristics track in different trimesters is not known.<h4>Methods</h4>In a population-based prospective cohort study among 8636 pregnant women, we examined the extent to which fetal growth characteristics track, are influenced by maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle related ...[more]

PMID: 24603318

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Project description:BackgroundAir pollution exposure during pregnancy might have trimester-specific effects on fetal growth.ObjectiveWe prospectively evaluated the associations of maternal air pollution exposure with fetal growth characteristics and adverse birth outcomes in 7,772 subjects in the Netherlands.MethodsParticulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were estimated using dispersion modeling at the home address. Fetal head circumference, length, and weight were estimated in each trimester by ultrasound. Information on birth outcomes was obtained from medical records.ResultsIn cross-sectional analyses, NO2 levels were inversely associated with fetal femur length in the second and third trimester, and PM10 and NO2 levels both were associated with smaller fetal head circumference in the third trimester [-0.18 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.24, -0.12 mm; and -0.12 mm, 95% CI: -0.17, -0.06 mm per 1-μg/m3 increase in PM10 and NO2, respectively]. Average PM10 and NO2 levels during pregnancy were not associated with head circumference and length at birth or neonatally, but were inversely associated with birth weight (-3.6 g, 95% CI: -6.7, -0.4 g; and -3.4 g, 95% CI: -6.2, -0.6 g, respectively). Longitudinal analyses showed similar patterns for head circumference and weight, but no associations with length. The third and fourth quartiles of PM10 exposure were associated with preterm birth [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.89; and OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.79, relative to the first quartile]. The third quartile of PM10 exposure, but not the fourth, was associated with small size for gestational age at birth (SGA) (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.90). No consistent associations were observed for NO2 levels and adverse birth outcomes.ConclusionsResults suggest that maternal air pollution exposure is inversely associated with fetal growth during the second and third trimester and with weight at birth. PM10 exposure was positively associated with preterm birth and SGA.

Project description:BackgroundNulliparity is considered to be a risk factor of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA). With the new two-child policy launched in 2016, more Chinese women have delivered their 2nd baby. Yet few studies have assessed the impact of parity on adverse birth outcomes in China. This study aimed to examine the association between parity and risks of PTB, LBW and SGA in a Chinese population. The combined effects of maternal age and parity on adverse birth outcomes were also assessed.MethodsThis retrospective study included all non-malformed live births born during January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018 in Chengdu, China. A total of 746,410 eligible live singletons with complete information were included in the analysis. Parity was classified into nulliparity (i.e. has never delivered a newborn before) and multiparity (i.e. has delivered at least one newborn before). Log-binomial regression analyses were applied to evaluate the association between parity and PTB, LBW and SGA. We further divided maternal age into different groups (< 25 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years and ≥ 35 years) to assess the combined effects of maternal age and parity on adverse birth outcomes.ResultsMultiparity was associated with reduced risks of PTB (aRR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89-0.93), LBW (aRR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.72-0.77) and SGA (aRR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.66-0.69) compared with nulliparity. In each age group, we observed that multiparity was associated with lower risks of adverse birth outcomes. Compared to nulliparous women aged between 25 and 29 years, women aged ≥35 years had greater risks of PTB and LBW, regardless of their parity status. In contrast, multiparous women aged ≥35 years (aRR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.70-0.77) and those aged < 25 years (aRR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.84-0.93) were at lower risk of SGA compared with nulliparous women aged between 25 and 29 years.ConclusionMultiparity was associated with lower risks of all adverse birth outcomes. Special attention should be paid to nulliparous mothers and those with advanced age during antenatal care, in order to reduce the risks of adverse birth outcomes.

Project description:ObjectiveTo estimate the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes among women with isolated fetal growth restriction from 17 to 22 weeks of gestation.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of all singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies undergoing ultrasonography to assess fetal anatomy between 17 and 22 weeks of gestation at a single center from 2010 to 2014. After excluding patients with fetal structural malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, or identified infectious etiologies, we compared perinatal outcomes between pregnancies with and without fetal growth restriction, defined as estimated fetal weight less than the 10th percentile for gestational age. Our primary outcome was small for gestational age (SGA) at birth, defined as birth weight less than the 10th percentile. Secondary outcomes included preterm delivery at less than 37 and less than 28 weeks of gestation, preeclampsia, abruption, stillbirth, neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit admission, intraventricular hemorrhage, need for respiratory support, and necrotizing enterocolitis.ResultsOf 12,783 eligible patients, 355 (2.8%) had early second-trimester fetal growth restriction. Risk factors for growth restriction were African American race and tobacco use. Early second-trimester growth restriction was associated with a more than fivefold increase in risk of SGA at birth (36.9% compared with 9.1%, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.5, 95% CI 4.3-7.0), stillbirth (2.5% compared with 0.4%, OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.7-12.8), and neonatal death (1.4% compared with 0.3%, OR 5.2, 95% CI 1.6-13.5). Rates of indicated preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation (7.3% compared with 3.3%, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.5) and less than 28 weeks of gestation (2.5% compared with 0.2%, OR 10.8, 95% CI 4.5-23.4), neonatal need for respiratory support (16.9% compared with 7.8%, adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.2), and necrotizing enterocolitis (1.4% compared with 0.2%, OR 7.7, 95% CI 2.3-20.9) were also significantly higher for those with growth restriction. Rates of preeclampsia, abruption, and other neonatal outcomes were not significantly different.ConclusionAlthough fetal growth restriction in the early second trimester occurred in less than 3% of our cohort and most of those with isolated growth restriction did not have adverse outcomes, it is a strong risk factor for SGA, stillbirth, neonatal death, and indicated preterm birth.

Project description:Aims/hypothesisThe study aimed to assess the associations of maternal early-pregnancy blood glucose levels with fetal growth throughout pregnancy and the risks of adverse birth outcomes.MethodsIn a population-based prospective cohort study among 6116 pregnant women, maternal non-fasting glucose levels were measured in blood plasma at a median 13.2 weeks of gestation (95% range 9.6-17.6). We measured fetal growth by ultrasound in each pregnancy period. We obtained information about birth outcomes from medical records and maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors from questionnaires.ResultsHigher maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels were associated with altered fetal growth patterns, characterised by decreased fetal growth rates in mid-pregnancy and increased fetal growth rates from late pregnancy onwards, resulting in an increased length and weight at birth (p ?0.05 for all). A weaker association of maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels with fetal head circumference growth rates was present. Higher maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels were also associated with an increased risk of delivering a large-for-gestational-age infant, but decreased risk of delivering a small-for-gestational-age infant (OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.16, 1.41], OR 0.88 [95% CI 0.79, 0.98] per mmol/l increase in maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels, respectively). These associations were not explained by maternal sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors or BMI. Maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels were not associated with preterm birth or delivery complications.Conclusions/interpretationHigher maternal early-pregnancy non-fasting glucose levels are associated with decreased fetal growth rates in mid-pregnancy and increased fetal growth rates from late pregnancy onwards, and an increased risk of delivering a large-for-gestational-age infant. Future preventive strategies need to focus on screening for an impaired maternal glucose metabolism from preconception and early pregnancy onwards to improve birth outcomes.

Project description:BACKGROUND:According to the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group recommendations, boys and girls have different growth trajectories after birth. Our aim was to develop gender-specific fetal growth curves in a low-risk population and to compare immediate birth outcomes. METHODS:First, second, and third trimester fetal ultrasound examinations were conducted between 2002 and 2012. The data was selected using the following criteria: routine examinations in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, Caucasian ethnicity, and confirmation of gestational age by a crown-rump length (CRL) measurement in the first trimester. Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) was used to align the time frames of the longitudinal fetal measurements, corresponding with the methods of the postnatal growth curves of the WHO MGRS Group. RESULTS:A total of 27,680 complete scans were selected from the astraia© ultrasound database representing 12,368 pregnancies. Gender-specific fetal growth curves for biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) were derived. The HC and BPD were significantly larger in boys compared to girls from 20 weeks of gestation onwards (p < 0.001) equating to a 3-day difference at 20-24 weeks. Boys were significantly heavier, longer, and had greater head circumference than girls (p < 0.001) at birth. The Apgar score at 1 min (p = 0.01) and arterial cord pH (p < 0.001) were lower in boys. CONCLUSIONS:These longitudinal fetal growth curves for the first time allow integration with neonatal and pediatric WHO gender-specific growth curves. Boys exceed head growth halfway of the pregnancy, and immediate birth outcomes are worse in boys than girls. Gender difference in intrauterine growth is sufficiently distinct to have a clinically important effect on fetal weight estimation but also on the second trimester dating. Therefore, these differences might already play a role in early fetal or immediate neonatal management.

Dataset Information

Tracking of fetal growth characteristics during different trimesters and the risks of adverse birth outcomes.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Tracking of fetal growth characteristics during different trimesters and the risks of adverse birth outcomes.

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