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Risk factors for antepartum stillbirth and the influence of maternal age in New South Wales Australia: a population based study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Maternal age is a known risk factor for stillbirth and delayed childbearing is a societal norm in developed country settings. The timing and reasons for age being a risk factor are less clear. This study aimed to document the gestational specific risk of maternal age throughout pregnancy and whether the underlying causes of stillbirth differ for older women. METHODS: Using linkage of state maternity and perinatal death data collections the authors assessed risk factors for antepartum stillbirth in New South Wales Australia for births between 2002 - 2006 (n = 327,690) using a Cox proportional hazards model. Gestational age specific risk was calculated for different maternal age groups. Deaths were classified according to the Perinatal Mortality Classifications of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand. RESULTS: Maternal age was a significant independent risk factor for antepartum stillbirth (35 - 39 years HR 1.4 95% CI 1.12 - 1.75; ? 40 years HR 2.41 95% CI 1.8 - 3.23). Other significant risk factors were smoking HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.56 -2.12) nulliparity HR 1.23 (95% CI 1.08 - 1.40), pre-existing hypertension HR 2.77 (95% CI 1.94 - 3.97) and pre-existing diabetes HR 2.65 (95% CI 1.63 - 4.32). For women aged 40 or over the risk of antepartum stillbirth beyond 40 weeks was 1 in 455 ongoing pregnancies compared with 1 in 1177 ongoing pregnancies for those under 40. This risk was increased in nulliparous women to 1 in 247 ongoing pregnancies. Unexplained stillbirths were the most common classification for all women, stillbirths classified as perinatal infection were more common in the women aged 40 or above. CONCLUSIONS: Women aged 35 or older in a first pregnancy should be counselled regarding stillbirth risk at the end of pregnancy to assist with informed decision making regarding delivery. For women aged 40 or older in their first pregnancy it would be reasonable to offer induction of labour by 40 weeks gestation.

SUBMITTER: Gordon A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3552834 | biostudies-other | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Risk factors for antepartum stillbirth and the influence of maternal age in New South Wales Australia: a population based study.

Gordon Adrienne A Raynes-Greenow Camille C McGeechan Kevin K Morris Jonathan J Jeffery Heather H

BMC pregnancy and childbirth 20130116

<h4>Background</h4>Maternal age is a known risk factor for stillbirth and delayed childbearing is a societal norm in developed country settings. The timing and reasons for age being a risk factor are less clear. This study aimed to document the gestational specific risk of maternal age throughout pregnancy and whether the underlying causes of stillbirth differ for older women.<h4>Methods</h4>Using linkage of state maternity and perinatal death data collections the authors assessed risk factors f ...[more]

PMID: 23324309

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Project description:ObjectiveTo assess the main risk factors associated with stillbirth in a multiethnic English maternity population.DesignCohort study.SettingNational Health Service region in England.Population92,218 normally formed singletons including 389 stillbirths from 24 weeks of gestation, delivered during 2009-11.Main outcome measureRisk of stillbirth.ResultsMultivariable analysis identified a significant risk of stillbirth for parity (para 0 and para ≥ 3), ethnicity (African, African-Caribbean, Indian, and Pakistani), maternal obesity (body mass index ≥ 30), smoking, pre-existing diabetes, and history of mental health problems, antepartum haemorrhage, and fetal growth restriction (birth weight below 10th customised birthweight centile). As potentially modifiable risk factors, maternal obesity, smoking in pregnancy, and fetal growth restriction together accounted for 56.1% of the stillbirths. Presence of fetal growth restriction constituted the highest risk, and this applied to pregnancies where mothers did not smoke (adjusted relative risk 7.8, 95% confidence interval 6.6 to 10.9), did smoke (5.7, 3.6 to 10.9), and were exposed to passive smoke only (10.0, 6.6 to 15.8). Fetal growth restriction also had the largest population attributable risk for stillbirth and was fivefold greater if it was not detected antenatally than when it was (32.0% v 6.2%). In total, 195 of the 389 stillbirths in this cohort had fetal growth restriction, but in 160 (82%) it had not been detected antenatally. Antenatal recognition of fetal growth restriction resulted in delivery 10 days earlier than when it was not detected: median 270 (interquartile range 261-279) days v 280 (interquartile range 273-287) days. The overall stillbirth rate (per 1000 births) was 4.2, but only 2.4 in pregnancies without fetal growth restriction, increasing to 9.7 with antenatally detected fetal growth restriction and 19.8 when it was not detected.ConclusionMost normally formed singleton stillbirths are potentially avoidable. The single largest risk factor is unrecognised fetal growth restriction, and preventive strategies need to focus on improving antenatal detection.

Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of acculturation, demonstrated by age on arrival, length of residence, interpreter use and having an Australian-born partner, on disparities observed in the risk of stillbirth between migrant and Australian-born populations in Western Australia (WA).MethodsA retrospective cohort study using linked administrative health data for all non-Indigenous births in WA from 2005-2013 was performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for stillbirth in migrants from six ethnicities of white, Asian, Indian, African, M?ori, and 'other', with different levels of acculturation, were compared with Australian-born women using multivariable logistic regression analysis and marital status, maternal age group, socioeconomic status, parity, plurality, previous stillbirth, any medical conditions, any pregnancy complications, sex of baby, and smoking during pregnancy as the covariates.ResultsFrom all births studied, 172,571 (66%) were to Australian-born women and 88,395 (34%) to migrant women. Women from African, Indian and Asian backgrounds who gave birth in the first two years after arrival in Australia experienced the highest risk of stillbirth (aOR 3.32; 95% CI 1.70-6.47, aOR 2.71; 95% CI 1.58-4.65, aOR 1.93; 95% CI 1.21-3.05 respectively) compared with Australian-born women. This association attenuated with an increase in the length of residence in Asian and Indian women, but the risk of stillbirth remained elevated in African women after five years of residence (aOR 1.96 [1.10-3.49]). Interpreter use and an Australian-born partner were associated with 56% and 20% lower odds of stillbirth in migrants (p<0.05), respectively.ConclusionsAcculturation is a multidimensional process and may lower the risk of stillbirth through better communication and service utilisation and elevate such risk through increase in prevalence of smoking in pregnancy; the final outcome depends on how these factors are in play in a population. It is noteworthy that in women of African background risk of stillbirth remained elevated for longer periods after immigrating to Australia extending beyond five years. For migrants from Asian and Indian backgrounds, access to services, in the first two years of residence, may be more relevant. Enhanced understanding of barriers to accessing health services and factors influencing and influenced by acculturation may help developing interventions to reduce the burden of stillbirth in identified at-risk groups.

Dataset Information

Risk factors for antepartum stillbirth and the influence of maternal age in New South Wales Australia: a population based study.

Publications

Risk factors for antepartum stillbirth and the influence of maternal age in New South Wales Australia: a population based study.

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