RESUMEN
In Brazil, the excess of interventions that anticipate childbirth, such as cesarean sections and labor inductions, has resulted in the shortening of pregnancy, with negative consequences on maternal-infant outcomes. This commentary presents a novel way to measure gestational age: the continuous variable "Potential pregnancy days lost." Using data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), we counted the missing days between the period until childbirth and the average duration of pregnancy (280 days), or the lost weeks. This measure can be used as an outcome variable (socioeconomic-demographic characteristics of the mother, type of childbirth, financing, etc.) or exposure variable (for neonatal, infant, and maternal outcomes). The indicator can be used in municipal and national cohorts and intervention studies to analyze hospitals and regions. We discuss the limits and scope of gestational age measures and, given their inaccuracies, the importance of studying their trends.
Asunto(s)
Parto Obstétrico , Trabajo de Parto Inducido , Brasil , Cesárea , Femenino , Edad Gestacional , Humanos , Lactante , EmbarazoRESUMEN
ABSTRACT In Brazil, the excess of interventions that anticipate childbirth, such as cesarean sections and labor inductions, has resulted in the shortening of pregnancy, with negative consequences on maternal-infant outcomes. This commentary presents a novel way to measure gestational age: the continuous variable "Potential pregnancy days lost." Using data from the Live Birth Information System (SINASC), we counted the missing days between the period until childbirth and the average duration of pregnancy (280 days), or the lost weeks. This measure can be used as an outcome variable (socioeconomic-demographic characteristics of the mother, type of childbirth, financing, etc.) or exposure variable (for neonatal, infant, and maternal outcomes). The indicator can be used in municipal and national cohorts and intervention studies to analyze hospitals and regions. We discuss the limits and scope of gestational age measures and, given their inaccuracies, the importance of studying their trends.
RESUMO No Brasil, o excesso de intervenções que antecipam o parto, como cesarianas e induções, tem resultado no encurtamento da gestação, com consequências negativas nos desfechos materno-infantis. Neste comentário apresentamos uma medida inovadora da idade gestacional que estamos desenvolvendo: a variável contínua "dias potenciais de gravidez perdidos". Utilizando dados do Sistema de Informações de Nascidos Vivos, contamos, quando possível, os dias faltantes entre o período até o nascimento e a duração média da gestação (280 dias), ou então as semanas perdidas. Essa medida pode ser usada como variável desfecho (de características socioeconômico-demográficos da mãe, do tipo de parto, de financiamento etc.) ou de exposição (para desfechos neonatais, infantis e maternos). O indicador pode ser usado em coortes municipais e nacionais e em estudos de intervenção, para analisar hospitais e territórios. Discutimos os limites e alcances das medidas de idade gestacional e, diante de suas imprecisões, a importância de estudar suas tendências.
