Interpregnancy interval and perinatal outcomes across Latin America from 1990 to 2009: a large multi-country study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of interpregnancy interval with maternal and offspring outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective study with data from the Perinatal Information System database of the Latin American Centre for Perinatology and Human Development, Uruguay. SETTING: Latin America, 1990-2009. POPULATION: A cohort of 894 476 women delivering singleton infants. METHODS: During 1990-2009 the Perinatal Information System database of the Latin American Centre for Perinatology identified 894 476 women with defined interpregnancy intervals: i.e. the time elapsed between the date of the previous delivery and the first day of the last normal menstrual period for the index pregnancy. Using the interval 12-23 months as the reference category, multiple logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of the association between various interval lengths and maternal and offspring outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal death, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, puerperal infection, fetal death, neonatal death, preterm birth, and low birthweight. RESULTS: In the reference interval there was 0.05% maternal death, 1.00% postpartum haemorrhage, 2.80% pre-eclampsia, 0.15% eclampsia, 0.28% puerperal infection, 3.45% fetal death, 0.68% neonatal death, 12.33% preterm birth, and 9.73% low birthweight. Longer intervals had increased odds of pre-eclampsia (>72 months), fetal death (>108-119 months), and low birthweight (96-107 months). Short intervals of <12 months had increased odds of pre-eclampsia (aOR 0.80; 95% CI 0.76-0.85), neonatal death (aOR 1.18; 95% CI 1.08-1.28), and preterm birth (aOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.21). Statistically, the interval had no relationship with maternal death, eclampsia, and puerperal infection. CONCLUSIONS: A short interpregnancy interval of <12 months is associated with pre-eclampsia, neonatal mortality, and preterm birth, but not with other maternal or offspring outcomes. Longer intervals of >72 months are associated with pre-eclampsia, fetal death, and low birthweight, but not with other maternal or offspring outcomes. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: A short interpregnancy interval of <12 months is associated with neonatal mortality and preterm birth.

Estimation of gestational age by the length of the dorsal spine.

Gestational age assessed by dorsal spine length (DSL) was compared with that based on date of the last menstrual period (LMP). This study was performed in 70 newborn infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit requiring chest radiography, by which dorsal spine length was measured (figure 1). Gestational age ranged from 23 to 42 weeks. Regression analysis were performed on DSL and gestational age. Estimation error was evaluated based on the percentage of agreement in weeks (validity) and the difference in averages between both methods (accuracy) (table I and figure 2). Variations during the first week of life were also studied and no significant differences were found. For infants born at 31 weeks or less, DSL overestimated gestational age in one week. There was no differences between 32 and 36 weeks, and over 37 weeks, underestimation was one week (figure 3). With this correction a table was built estimating gestational age for different DSL; percentage of agreement was 91.4% for +/- 3 weeks (table III). This methodology assists the clinician to evaluate gestational age by an objective method, that does not vary during the first week of life and that can be obtained retrospectively.

Sistema de información perinatal: Historia clínica perinatal base / Perinatal onformation system: Perinatal clinical history bases

A pesar de que la Historia Clínica es una pieza fundamental para un sistema de información adecuado y para un mejor ardenamiento de los servicios de salud, son notorias las deficiencias de que ésta adolece en la mayoría de los países de Latinoamérica. Como respuesta a ese problema, a inicios de la década de los ï70, el Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatología y Desarrollo Humano (CLAP) con sede en Montevideo, propuso un modelo de Historia Clínica Perinatal (HCPB) adoptado luego por varios países del Continente. Despues de dos años de trabajo, el equipo técnico del CLAP elaboró el Sistema Informático Perinatal. En esta tarea intervinieron obstetras, neonatólogos, sanitaristas, enfermeras, ingenieros de sistemas, bioestadístas y otros profesionales