Prevalência de nascimentos prematuros como desfechos de infecções pela COVID-19 na gestação / Prevalence of Preterm Birth as an Outcome of COVID-19 Infections during Pregnancy / Prevalencia de nacimientos prematuros producto de la infección por COVID-19 durante el embarazo

Objetivo: estimar a prevalência de nascimento prematuro em gestantes infectadas pela Covid-19, comparar índices de prematuridade entre infectadas e não infectadas e elucidar fatores associados à prematuridade. Métodos: coorte retrospectiva, com coleta de dados por inquérito online, de abril a dezembro de 2022, com mulheres que estiveram gestantes durante a pandemia, com acesso à internet, idade superior a 18 anos e que preencheram o primeiro inquérito online. Protocolo de pesquisa aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética. Resultados: primeiro inquérito respondido por 304 gestantes/puérperas, e o segundo por 82 (27%), compondo a amostra final. O índice de prematuridade no primeiro inquérito foi de 7,2% (n=14), já no segundo, 8,5% (n=7). A infecção pela Covid-19 não foi associada à prematuridade. A prematuridade associou-se a baixo peso, à necessidade de internação em centros de terapia intensiva neonatal e internações após o nascimento. Conclusão: a infecção pela Covid-19 não influenciou no aumento de nascimentos prematuros.

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of preterm birth in pregnant women infected with Covid-19, compare prematurity rates between infected and non-infected, and elucidate factors associated with prematurity. Methods: a retrospective cohort study was conducted using online survey data collected from April to December 2022, involving women who were pregnant during the pandemic, had internet access, were over 18 years old, and completed the initial online survey. The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee. Results: the initial survey was completed by 304 pregnant/postpartum women, and the follow-up survey by 82 (27%), comprising the final sample. The preterm birth rate in the initial survey was 7.2% (n=14), and in the follow-up survey, it was 8.5% (n=7). Covid-19 infection was not associated with prematurity. Prematurity was associated with low birth weight, the need for neonatal intensive care unit admission, and postnatal hospitalizations. Conclusion: Covid-19 infection did not influence an increase in preterm births.

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de partos prematuros en gestantes infectadas por Covid-19, comparar las tasas de prematuridad entre gestantes infectadas y no infectadas y determinar los factores asociados a la prematuridad. Métodos: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, con recolección de datos mediante encuesta online, de abril a diciembre de 2022, con mujeres que estuvieron embarazadas durante la pandemia, con acceso a internet, mayores de 18 años y que completaron la primera encuesta online. El protocolo de investigación fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética. Resultados: la primera encuesta fue respondida por 304 gestantes/puérperas, y la segunda por 82 (27%), que conformaron la muestra final. La tasa de prematuridad en la primera encuesta fue del 7,2% (n=14), en la segunda, del 8,5% (n=7). La infección por Covid-19 no se asoció con la prematuridad. La prematuridad se asoció con bajo peso, necesidad de internación en centros de cuidados intensivos neonatales e internaciones después del nacimiento. Conclusión: La infección por Covid-19 no influyó en el aumento de nacimientos prematuros.

Screening and prevention of preterm birth: how is it done in clinical practice?

Abstract Objective: To ascertain how screening for preterm birth is performed among obstetricians working in public and private practice in a middle-income country. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 265 obstetrician-gynecologists employed at public and private facilities. An online questionnaire was administered, with items designed to collect data on prematurity screening and prevention practices. Results: The mean age of respondents was 44.5 years; 78.5% were female, and 97.7% had completed a medical residency program. Universal screening (i.e., by ultrasound measurement of cervical length) was carried out by only 11.3% of respondents in public practice; 43% request transvaginal ultrasound if the manual exam is abnormal, and 74.6% request it in pregnant women with risk factors for preterm birth. Conversely, 60.7% of respondents in private practice performed universal screening. This difference in screening practices between public and private practice was highly significant (p < 0.001). Nearly all respondents (90.6%) reported prescribing vaginal progesterone for short cervix. Conclusion: In the setting of this study, universal ultrasound screening to prevent preterm birth was used by just over half of doctors in private practice. In public facilities, screening was even less common. Use of vaginal progesterone in cervical shortening was highly prevalent. There is an unmet need for formal protocols for screening and prevention of preterm birth in middle-income settings.

Utilidad de la ecografía transvaginal para la predicción de parto prematuro luego de un cerclaje cervical: revisión de la literatura / Value of transvaginal ultrasound for preterm labour prediction after a cervical cerclage: a review of the literature

Introducción : el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cervical es el cerclaje cervical. Pese a este tratamiento el riesgo de parto prematuro persiste elevado en mujeres con insuficiencia cervical. La mejor forma y utilidad del seguimiento ecográfico de mujeres cercladas es desconocida. El objetivo de esta revisión fue evaluar la capacidad pronóstica de la ecografía transvaginal para predecir riesgo de parto prematuro luego de un cerclaje cervical. Materiales y métodos : realizamos una revisión sistemática de la literatura incluyendo estudios que evaluaran el valor pronóstico de la ecografía transvaginal luego de un cerclaje cervical, para predecir parto prematuro. Resultados : incluimos 14 estudios en la revisión. El parámetro más frecuentemente asociado con parto prematuro fue la longitud cervical posterior al cerclaje, aunque con capacidad predictiva moderada. El punto de corte para definir pacientes en riesgo varió entre 15-28 mm. Conclusión : la longitud cervical disminuida posterior a un cerclaje se asocia con mayor riesgo de parto prematuro. No se ha establecido un valor de corte único ni la utilidad clínica del seguimiento ecográfico de mujeres cercladas.

Introduction : The management of cervical insufficiency involves a cervical cerclage. Despite this treatment, patients with cervical insufficiency remain at high risk of preterm delivery. The best method and utility of ultrasound monitoring for women with cervical cerclage is unknown. The objective of this revision was to evaluate the prognostic performance of ultrasonographic cervical assessment to predict preterm labor after a cervical cerclage. Material and methods : We conducted a systematic literature review, including studies that assessed the prognostic value of transvaginal ultrasound after cervical cerclage in predicting premature birth. Results : We included 14 studies in our review. The most frequently evaluated parameter was cervical length after the cerclage, although with only moderate predictive capacity. The length used to define prognosis varied from 15 to 28 mm. Conclusion : Short cervical length after a cerclage is associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery. A single cutoff value and the clinical utility of ultrasound monitoring for women with cervical cerclage have not been established.

Diseño y validación de una escala de riesgo de parto pretérmino con enfoque periodontal / Design and validation of a preterm birth risk scale with a periodontal approach i: en

Introducción: La escala de riesgo diseñada para estimar la probabilidad de parto pretérmino con enfoque periodontal debe ser validada antes de su implementación en la práctica clínica. Objetivo: Diseñar y validar una escala de riesgo de parto pretérmino con enfoque periodontal. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico, de casos y controles, de 1152 puérperas ingresadas en los hospitales maternos de la provincia de Santiago de Cuba en el período 2011-2022, para lo cual fueron seleccionadas 2 muestras: una de construcción del modelo (n=750) y otra de validación de la escala (n=402). Se determinaron los posibles predictores a través del análisis univariado y el cálculo del odds ratio, con un nivel de significación de p≤0,05; asimismo, se elaboró un modelo de regresión logística binaria multivariada y se obtuvo la escala de riesgo que fue validada por diferentes métodos. Resultados: La escala se obtuvo con 7 predictores y 2 estratos de riesgo. Esta alcanzó buena discriminación (80 %), así como buen nivel de ajuste y validez de constructo (p=0,72). Igualmente, aseguró una predicción correcta de más de 50 % de los partos pretérmino, valores de sensibilidad y especificidad aceptables (79,20 y 70,20 %, respectivamente), así como validez de contenido, validez interna y confiabilidad adecuadas. Conclusiones: La escala de riesgo para estratificar el riesgo de parto pretérmino incluye predictores de gravedad de la enfermedad periodontal, con buenos parámetros de validación para ser usada en la toma de decisiones para prevenir este tipo de parto.

Introduction: The risk scale designed to estimate the probability of preterm birth with periodontal approach should be validated before its implementation in the clinical practice. Objective: To design and validate a risk scale of preterm birth with periodontal approach. Methods: A cases and controls analytic study of 1152 newly-delivered women admitted to maternal hospitals in Santiago de Cuba province was carried out in the period 2011 - 2022, and 2 samples were selected: one of pattern construction (n=750) and another of scale validation(n=402). The possible predictors were determined through the single varied analysis and odds ratio calculation, with a significance level of p≤0.05; also, a multivariate binary logistical regression model was elaborated and the risk scale was obtained, which was validated by different methods. Results: The scale was obtained with 7 predictors and 2 risk stratum. It reached a good discrimination (80%), as well as a good adjustment level and construction validity (p=0.72). Likewise, it assured a correct prediction of more than 50% of preterm births, acceptable sensibility and specificity values (79.20 and 70.20%, respectively), as well as adequate content validity, internal validity and reliability. Conclusions: The risk scale to stratify the risk of preterm birth includes predictors of periodontal disease severity, with good validation parameters to be used in the decisions making to prevent this type of childbirth.

Retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants born following assisted conception versus spontaneously conceived pregnancies – A 2-year retrospective observational study from an urban tertiary eye care referral center in South India

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine if in vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with an increase in the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm infants. Methods: This retrospective, comparative study included all the preterm babies who were screened under an urban multicentric outreach project between April 2019 and August 2022. Infant details including gender, birth weight, mode of conception, single or multiple gestation, gestational age and post?menstrual age in weeks, age at presentation, and any presence of risk factors were recorded and analyzed. Results: Among 444 preterm babies included in the study, 373 (84%) were conceived normally and 71 (16%) were conceived by IVF. ROP was found in 99 (22.29%) babies in total. There was no significant difference in the incidence of any stage of ROP between the two groups; however, higher stages of ROP were found to be relatively more frequent in the spontaneous conception group in our study. We also found a statistically significant difference in the presence of ROP among singletons, twins, and triplets. Conclusion: IVF was found not to independently increase the risk of ROP in preterm infants. More prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the relationship between the mode of conception and development of severe ROP in preterm infants

Risk factors for simple congenital ptosis / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To identify the risk factors for simple congenital ptosis.Methods:A case-control study was performed.A total of 106 children diagnosed with simple congenital ptosis at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from October 2018 to January 2021 were recruited as a case group, and 106 sex-matched children without congenital abnormalities were enrolled as a control group at the same period.Ophthalmic examinations, including interpalpebral fissure height and margin reex distance 1, were performed on all participants.A questionnaire survey was administered to their mothers.The questionnaire included demographic information, prenatal maternal diseases, medical treatments and environmental exposures during pregnancy.Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences in variables between the case and control groups.Variables with P<0.20 were retained for multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for simple congenital ptosis.The goodness of fit of the model was evaluated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and collinearity was assessed by the variance inflation factor (VIF). This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (No.2019-136). The method and purpose of the study were fully explained to the children's guardians and written informed consent was obtained. Results:Comparisons of gestational age <37 weeks, birth order ≥2, maternal age, antibiotic use in the first trimester, paternal smoking ≥half a pack per day, and prenatal maternal passive smoking between the two groups were all with P<0.20.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age <37 weeks (odds ratio [ OR]=4.58; 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.24-16.85), paternal smoking ≥half a pack per day ( OR=2.28; 95% CI: 1.22-4.28) and prenatal maternal passive smoking ( OR=3.13; 95% CI: 1.16-8.41) were risk factors for simple congenital ptosis.No significant collinearity was found among these identified factors (all VIF<5). Conclusions:Preterm birth, paternal smoking, and prenatal maternal passive smoking are risk factors for simple congenital ptosis.

Analysis of risk factors for neonatal preterm birth and construction of nomogram prediction model / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective To analyze the risk factors for neonatal preterm birth in 12 hospitals in Yunnan Province from 2016 to 2017, and to establish a nomogram prediction model for neonatal preterm birth, providing scientific evidence for the prevention of preterm birth. Methods A total of 20 445 pregnant women who gave birth in 12 hospitals in Yunnan Province from 2016 to 2017 were collected and grouped into a preterm group (n=1 186) and a full-term group (n=19 259) according to whether they had a premature delivery. The general information questionnaire of pregnant women designed by the research team was applied to understand the basic conditions and pregnancy information of the two groups, and the risk factors of preterm birth were determined by logistic regression analysis, R software was applied to draw a nomogram prediction model of neonatal preterm birth, and its predictive performance was tested. Results There were significant differences in the proportions of twins and above (9.11% vs 7.10%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (21.67% vs 18.57%), gestational diabetes mellitus (18.21% vs 15.90%), anemia (24.28% vs 20.70%), premature rupture of membranes (11.64% vs 9.76%), and abnormal placenta (7.08% vs 5.51%) between the preterm group and the full-term group (χ2=6.731, 7.055, 4.441, 8.691, 4.437, 5.232, all P<0.05); the logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for neonatal preterm birth were twins and above (OR=2.378), pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR=2.039), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR=1.824), anemia (OR=1.825), and premature rupture of membranes (OR=2.313) (all P<0.05); the discrimination (area under the curve was 0.794, 95%CI=0.738-0.850) and precision (goodness of fit HL test, χ2=8.864, P=0.312) of the nomogram model constructed to predict the occurrence of neonatal preterm birth were both good. Conclusions The nomogram model for preterm birth constructed based on 5 factors including number of fetuses, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, anemia and premature rupture of membranes can predict the occurrence of neonatal preterm birth well, thus providing reference for the prevention of neonatal preterm birth.

Effectiveness of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi root in pregnancy-related diseases: A review / 中西医结合学报

The root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, also called Huangqin, is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine. In ancient China, S. baicalensis root was used to clear heat, protect the fetus, and avoid a miscarriage for thousands of years. In modern times, pregnancy-related diseases can seriously affect maternal and fetal health, but few systematic studies have explored the mechanisms and potential targets of S. baicalensis root in the treatment of pregnancy-related diseases. Flavonoids (baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A) and flavonoid glycosides (baicalin and wogonoside) are the main chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis. This study presents the current understanding of the major chemical components in the root of S. baicalensis, focusing on their traditional uses, potential therapeutic effects and ethnopharmacological relevance to pregnancy-related disorders. The mechanisms, potential targets and experimental models of S. baicalensis root for ameliorating pregnancy-related diseases, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and gestational diabetes mellitus, are highlighted.

Distribution characteristics of vaginal flora and pregnancy outcomes in cervical incompetence patients / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective·To investigate the distribution characteristics of vaginal flora in patients with cervical incompetence(CIC),and the effect of cervical cerclage on pregnancy outcome in patients with CIC with abnormal vaginal flora.Methods·A total of 1 261 pregnant women participated in the study.According to the diagnosis,they were divided into cervical incompetence group(CIC group)and normal pregnancy group(NP group).The CIC group patients randomly received cervical cerclage(CIC-C group)or expectation therapy(CIC-E group).Vaginal secretion samples of the patients in the groups were collected and analyzed in the laboratory.Meanwhile,through the results of vaginal flora,the CIC-C group and CIC-E group were further divided into normal vaginal flora groups(CIC-C-N group and CIC-E-N group)and abnormal vaginal flora groups(CIC-C-A group and CIC-E-A group).All groups were processed accordingly and analyzed on pregnancy outcomes.T-test and Chi-squared test were used for comparison between the groups,and One-way ANOVA was used for comparison among the three groups.Statistical significance was accepted at a value of P＜0.05.Results·Among 1 261 vaginal secretion specimens,the positive rate of pathogenic bacteria was 22.0％(277/1 261).The pathogen detection rates in the CIC group and NP group were 32.9％(229/696)and 8.5％(48/565).Twenty-three types of vaginal flora were detected in the CIC group,and 9 were detected in the NP group.The proportions of women who had term birth were 75.94％in the CIC-C group,70.03％in the CIC-E group,and 87.79％in the NP group(P=0.000).Compared with the CIC-C-A group,the CIC-E-A group had a lower term delivery rate(61.84％vs 77.78％,P=0.011)and a higher incidence of pregnancy complications(22.37％vs 9.15％,P=0.006).Conclusion·There are differences in the distribution and diversity of vaginal flora between CIC patients and normal pregnant women.Cervical cerclage can improve pregnancy outcomes in CIC patients with abnormal vaginal flora.

Transabdominal ultrasound measurement of cervical length in mid-pregnancy for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical significance of cervical length (CL) measured by transabdominal ultrasound during fetal structural anomalies screeing at 20-24 +6 weeks of gestation. Methods:This was a retrospective nested case-control study based on a prospective longitudinal cohort of "Prediction and Prevention of Early-onset Preeclampsia", which recruited 4 995 singleton pregnant women at the gestational age of 11-13 +6 weeks in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from April 2019 to August 2022. All the subjects underwent second-trimester ultrasound screening for fetal structural anomalies in our hospital with image records. This study excluded the women who were lost to follow-up, underwent cervical cerclage, terminated the pregnancy due to personal or social factors, or had miscarriage before 20 weeks of gestation, and those with iatrogenic preterm births, intrauterine fetal death or no second-trimester cervical sonography images. Propensity score matching was used to match pregnant women with spontaneous preterm birth ( n=101) and those with full-term delivery ( n=101) in a 1∶1 ratio, with factors of maternal age, body mass index, preterm birth history, cesarean section history, and pregnancy interval ≥5 years. CL was measured based on the retained ultrasound images. Nonparametric test or Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the correlation between CL measured by transabdominal ultrasound in the second trimester and spontaneous preterm birth. Results:The CL measured by transabdominal ultrasound at 20-24 +6 weeks of gestation was significantly shorter in the spontaneous preterm birth group than that in the full-term group [2.8 cm (2.5-3.3 cm) vs. 3.4 cm (3.0-3.9 cm), Z=－5.85, P<0.001]. If CL<3.4 cm was used as the cut-off value for predicting spontaneous preterm birth (20-36 +6 weeks), the specificity and the sensitivity were 0.50 and 0.77, respectively, and the sensitivity reached 0.92 for predicting preterm birth before 32 weeks and 1.00 for predicting preterm birth before 28 weeks. If CL<3.7 cm was used as the cut-off value, the specificity and the sensitivity were 0.36 and 0.87, respectively, and the sensitivity was 1.00 for predicting preterm birth before 32 weeks. The efficacy of preterm birth screening at 28-36 +6 weeks of gestation was comparable to that at 20-36 +6 weeks, if CL<3.4 cm and CL<3.7 cm were used as the cut-off value, the sensitivity were 0.76 and 0.86, respectively. Conclusion:Transabdominal ultrasound measurement of CL in the second trimester can be a preliminary screening to determine whether further transvaginal ultrasound measurement of CL is needed for women without a history of preterm birth or late spontaneous abortion.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and spontaneous preterm birth / 中华围产医学杂志

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy among reproductive-age women, characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and hyperandrogenemia. Studies have revealed that women with PCOS may experience an increased risk of various adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, miscarriages, and preterm births. Preterm birth is an important cause of adverse outcome among perinatal infants. However, due to the complexity of its pathogenesis, the current intervention treatment of preterm birth often yields unsatisfactory results. Recent studies have discovered that women with PCOS have a higher risk of preterm birth than those without, suggesting that PCOS is a risk factor for preterm birth. This article reviews the research progress of PCOS-related preterm birth to offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of preterm birth in women caused by PCOS.

Impacts of different causes of preterm birth on the outcomes of late preterm infants / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the impacts of different causes of preterm birth on the clinical outcomes of late preterm infants.Methods:From 2016 to 2022, clinical data of late preterm infants and their mothers delivered in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The infants were assigned into spontaneous preterm group, premature rupture of membranes (PROM) group and iatrogenic preterm group according to the causes of preterm birth. Perinatal data and neonatal outcomes were compared among these groups. Composite neonatal adverse outcomes (CNAO) included more than one of the following conditions: respiratory diseases, the need for respiratory support, hypoglycemia and neonatal asphyxia. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the correlation between causes of preterm birth and CNAO.Results:A total of 553 late preterm infants were enrolled in the study, including 111 cases (20.1%) in spontaneous preterm group, 305 cases (55.2%) in PROM group and 137 cases (24.8%) in iatrogenic preterm group. Iatrogenic preterm group had higher incidences of maternal hypertension during pregnancy, antenatal corticosteroid use, C-section delivery, neonatal respiratory diseases, respiratory support and CNAO than the other two groups ( P<0.05). Additionally, iatrogenic preterm group showed lower birth weight (BW) than the other two groups ( P<0.05). No significant differences existed in above-mentioned items between spontaneous preterm group and PROM group ( P>0.05). Iatrogenic preterm group had significantly lower gestational age (GA) and higher incidences of neonatal asphyxia and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) than PROM group ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that iatrogenic preterm birth ( OR=1.983, 95% CI 1.037-3.791) and lower GA at delivery (34 weeks: OR=2.412, 95% CI 1.250-4.656; 35 weeks: OR =1.909,95% CI 1.197-3.044) were independent risk factors for CNAO in late preterm infants. Conclusions:In addition to immaturity caused by lower GA, iatrogenic preterm birth also increases the incidence of CNAO in late preterm infants.

Risk Factors for cognitive, motor and language development of preterm children in the first year of life / Fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento cognitivo, motor e de linguagem ao longo do primeiro ano de vida de crianças nascidas prematuras

Abstract Objective: To perform a longitudinal investigation of risk factors in premature infants' cognitive, motor, and language development. Methods: Thirty-three preterm infants were assessed at 4, 8, and 12 months of corrected age, using the Bayley-III Scales. Parents completed questionnaires regarding development opportunities at home, parenting practices and knowledge. Results: Significant associations were found (1) at 4-months between cognitive scores and family income, variety of stimuli, availability of toys, parenting practices and knowledge; language and parenting practices; and motor skills and parenting practices; (2) at 8-months between cognitive score and length of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), gestational age, birth weight, toys, and parenting knowledge; language and toys; and motor skills and toys and parenting knowledge; (3) at 12-months between cognitive scores and length of stay in the NICU, family income, breastfeeding, toys, and parenting knowledge; language and income and toys; and motor scores and length of stay in the NICU, gestational age, income, stimuli, toys, and parenting knowledge. Regression analyses indicated that: for (1) cognitive development, stimulus variety explained 72% of the model variance at 4 months of age; time at the NICU explained 67 and 43% at 8 and 12 months of age, respectively, and breastfeeding time explained 41% of the model variance at 12 months; (2) for language development, family income explained 42% of the model variance at 12 months; and for motor development (3), time at the NICU explained 80% of the model variance at 12 months. Conclusions: The development over the first year of life is not explained by the severity of birth conditions and associated morbidities only, but also by parenting practices.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar longitudinalmente os fatores de risco no desenvolvimento cognitivo, motor e de linguagem de prematuros. Métodos: Participaram 33 crianças prematuras avaliadas aos quatro, oito e 12 meses de idade corrigida, com as escalas Bayley III. Os pais completaram questionários referentes às oportunidades do lar, práticas e conhecimento parentais. Resultados: Associações significantes foram encontradas: (1) aos quatro meses, entre os escores cognitivos e renda familiar, variedade de estímulos, disponibilidade de brinquedos, práticas e conhecimento parental; e linguagem e motor com conhecimento parental; (2) aos oito meses, entre os escores cognitivos e tempo de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI), idade gestacional, peso ao nascer, brinquedos e conhecimento parental; linguagem e brinquedos; e motor e brinquedos e conhecimento parental; (3) aos 12 meses, entre os escores cognitivos com o tempo de UTI, renda, meses de amamentação, brinquedos e conhecimento parental; linguagem e renda e brinquedos; e motor e idade gestacional, tempo de UTI, renda, estimulação, brinquedos e conhecimento parental. Análises de regressão indicaram que: para o desenvolvimento (1) cognitivo, a variedade de estímulos explicou 72% da variância do modelo aos quatro meses; o tempo de UTI explicou 67 e 43% aos oito e 12 meses respectivamente, e o tempo de amamentação explicou 41% da variância do modelo aos 12 meses; (2) para o desenvolvimento da linguagem, a renda familiar explicou 42% da variância do modelo aos 12 meses; e para o desenvolvimento (3) motor, o tempo de UTI explicou 80% da variância do modelo aos 12 meses. Conclusões: O desenvolvimento no primeiro ano de vida não é explicado apenas pela gravidade ao nascer e pelas morbidades clínicas associadas, mas também pelas práticas parentais.

Déficit de vitamina D y alto riesgo obstétrico: revisión narrativa / Vitamin D deficit and high-risk pregnancies: narrative literature review

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: Existe interés creciente en los efectos de la vitamina D en el embarazo y en la función placentaria, homeostasis de la glucosa, infección y respuesta inflamatoria, además de la asociación de su deficiencia con enfermedades de alto riesgo obstétrico. OBJETIVO: Identificar los aspectos relevantes conocidos y controvertidos del déficit de vitamina D y de su suplementación en pacientes con alto riesgo obstétrico que permitan aportarle al lector herramientas para la toma de decisiones en la práctica clínica. METODOLOGÍA: Se llevó a cabo una revisión de la bibliografía registrada en las bases de datos de MEDLINE vía PubMed, EBSCO y OVID del 2016 al 2022. Se consultaron artículos publicados en inglés y español, con los términos MeSH "Vitamin D", "preeclampsia", "premature birth", "diabestes, gestational" y "fetal growth retardation". RESULTADOS: La búsqueda inicial arrojó 685 artículos de los que se descartaron 364 por falta de pertinencia, 248 por falta del recurso completo y 44 por duplicaciones. De acuerdo con el objetivo planteado, al final quedaron 29 artículos que se complementaron con 55 textos clásicos encontrados en una búsqueda manual para contextualización de la revisión. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia respecto de la asociación entre deficiencia de vitamina D y pobres desenlaces obstétricos, en términos de tasas de preeclampsia, parto pretérmino, diabetes gestacional y restricción del crecimiento fetal no es concluyente. Sin embargo, el análisis de los estudios mencionados muestra una relación entre el déficit de vitamina D y el aumento del riesgo, desenlaces impactantes y consistentes con el riesgo de resultar con diabetes gestacional.

Abstract BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the effects of vitamin D in pregnancy and on placental function, glucose homeostasis, infection and inflammatory response, and the association of vitamin D deficiency with high-risk obstetric conditions. OBJECTIVE: To identify the relevant known and controversial aspects of vitamin D deficiency and its supplementation in patients at high obstetric risk, in order to provide the reader with decision-making tools for clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: A review of the literature registered in the MEDLINE databases via PubMed, EBSCO and OVID from 2016 to 2022 was performed. Articles published in English and Spanish were included using the MeSH terms "vitamin D", "pre-eclampsia", "preterm birth", "gestational diabetes" and "fetal growth retardation". RESULTS: The initial search yielded 685 articles, of which 364 were discarded for lack of relevance, 248 for lack of complete source and 44 for duplication. In accordance with the stated objective, 29 articles remained at the end, which were supplemented by 55 classic texts found in a manual search to contextualise the review. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence for an association between vitamin D deficiency and poor obstetric outcomes in terms of rates of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes and fetal growth restriction is inconclusive. However, analysis of the above studies shows an association between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk, with striking results consistent with the risk of gestational diabetes.

The Bayley Social-Emotional Scale and the Assessment of Preterm Infants: a systematic review / Escala Socioemocional Bayley e Avaliação de Bebês Prematuros: uma revisão sistemática / Escala Socioemocional de Bayley y Evaluación para Bebés Prematuros: una revisión sistemática

The Bayley scale is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing infant development. This article aimed to systematically review the contribution of the Bayley social-emotional scale in the assessment of social-emotional development in preterm infants. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. According to the inclusion criteria, 19 articles were selected from electronic databases. The results indicate reduced rates in evaluating the scale for children with lower gestational age, birth weight, and the association with environmental, biological, and hospital clinical factors. However, no analysis was found between the axes that guide the social-emotional development milestones present in the Bayley assessment and the developmental outcomes of preterm children. Bayley's social-emotional scale and other assessment methods can jointly compose a detailed and sensitive protocol for preterm infants regarding early childhood emotional health care. (AU)

A escala Bayley é um dos instrumentos mais utilizados para avaliação do desenvolvimento infantil. O objetivo deste artigo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática sobre a contribuição da escala socioemocional, pertencente à Bayley, na avaliação de crianças prematuras. A revisão seguiu as recomendações PRISMA e foi registrada no PROSPERO. Conforme critérios de inclusão, 19 artigos foram selecionados a partir de bancos de dados eletrônicos. Os resultados indicam índices reduzidos na avaliação da escala para crianças com menor idade gestacional, peso ao nascer e a associação com fatores ambientais, biológicos e clínicos hospitalares. No entanto, não foram encontradas análises entre os eixos que orientam os marcos de desenvolvimento socioemocional, presentes na avaliação Bayley e os resultados do desenvolvimento das crianças prematuras. A escala socioemocional da Bayley e outros métodos de avaliação podem conjuntamente compor um protocolo detalhado e sensível destinado ao cuidado da saúde emocional de crianças nascidas prematuras. (AU)

La escala Bayley es uno de los instrumentos más utilizados para la evaluación del desarrollo infantil. El propósito del artículo fue revisar sistemáticamente la contribución de la escala socioemocional de Bayley en la evaluación de bebés prematuros. La revisión siguió las recomendaciones PRISMA y fue registrada en PROSPERO. Según los criterios de inclusión, se seleccionaron 19 artículos de bases de datos electrónicas. Los resultados indican índices reducidos en la evaluación de la escala para niños con menor edad gestacional, peso al nacer asociaciados con factores ambientales, biológicos y clínicos hospitalarios. Sin embargo, no se encontraron análisis entre los ejes que orientan los hitos del desarrollo socioemocional, presentes en la evaluación Bayley, y los resultados del desarrollo de los niños prematuros. La Escala Socioemocional de Bayley y otros métodos de evaluación pueden formar en conjunto un protocolo detallado y sensible para el cuidado de la salud emocional de niños prematuros. (AU)

Diabetes among women with preterm births: outcomes of a Brazilian multicenter study

ABSTRACT Objective The objective was to compare the maternal and perinatal characteristics and outcomes between women with and without diabetes in a Brazilian cohort of women with preterm births. Methods This was an ancillary analysis of the Brazilian Multicenter Study on Preterm Birth, which included 4,150 preterm births. This analysis divided preterm births into two groups according to the presence of diabetes; pregestational and gestational diabetes were clustered in the same Diabetes Group. Differences between both groups were assessed using χ 2 or Student's t tests. Results Preterm births of 133 and 4,017 women with and without diabetes, respectively, were included. The prevalence of diabetes was 3.2%. Pregnant women aged ≥35 years were more common in the Diabetes Group (31.6% versus 14.0% non-diabetic women, respectively). The rate of cesarean section among patients with diabetes was 68.2% versus 52.3% in non-diabetic cases), with a gestational age at birth between 34 and 36 weeks in 78.9% of the cases and 62.1% of the controls. Large-for-gestational-age babies were 7 times more common in the Diabetes Group. Conclusion Preterm birth among Brazilian women with diabetes was more than twice as prevalent; these women were older and had regular late preterm deliveries, usually by cesarean section. They also had a greater frequency of fetal morbidities, such as malformations and polyhydramnios, and a higher proportion of large-for-gestational-age and macrosomic neonates.

The Use of Mid-Pregnancy Cervical Length to Predict Preterm Birth in Brazilian Asymptomatic Twin Gestations / O uso da medida do colo uterino no segundo trimestre de gestantes brasileiras como preditor de prematuridade na gestação gemelar

Abstract Objective To describe a reference curve for cervical length (CL) in mid-trimester twin gestations using transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) and to investigate whether short CL increases spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in asymptomatic twin pregnancies. Methods This was a prospective cohort study performed at 17 outpatient antenatal facilities of Brazil with women at 18 0/7 to 22 6/7 weeks of gestation who participated in a randomized clinical trial screening phase (P5 trial) between July 2015 and March 2019. TVU was performed to provide CL measurement in all screened women. Almost all women with CL ≤ 30 mm received vaginal progesterone 200mg/day and they were also randomized to receive cervical pessary or not. We considered data from the CL distribution among asymptomatic twin pregnancies and analyzed CL and its association with PTB generating receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier curves. Results A total of 253 pregnant women with twins were included in the distribution curve. The mean CL was 33.7 mm and median was 35.5mm. The 10th percentile was 17.8mm. We identified a PTB rate of 73.9% (187/253) with 33.6% of sPTB < 37 (85/253) and 15% (38/253) of sPTB < 34 weeks. The best cutoff point to predict sPTB < 37 was 24.15 mm. However, the ROC curve showed a poor performance (0.64). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves identified that only CL values ≤ 20mm were associated to sPTB < 34 weeks. Conclusion A cutoff point of CL ≤ 20 mm can be interesting point to identify short cervix in Brazilian twin pregnancies. However, in Brazilian asymptomatic twin pregnancies, CL does not show a good performance to predict PTB.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever uma curva de referência da medida do colo uterino no Segundo trimestre de gestações gemelares através de ultrassonografia transvaginal (TVU) e investigar a correlação entre a medida do colo uterino (CL) e o parto prematuro espontâneo (sPTB) em pacientes assintomáticas. Métodos Foi realizado uma coorte prospectiva multicêntrica em 17 centros de referência do Brasil com mulheres com gestação gemelar entre 18 0/7 a 22 6/7 semanas de gestação que participaram da primeira fase de um ensaio clínico randomizado (P5 trial) entre Julho/2015 a Março/2019. TVU foi realizada para obter a medida do colo uterino em todas as mulheres. A maioria das mulheres com CL ≤30 mm receberam progesterona por via vaginal 200mg/dia e estas foram randomizadas para receber ou não um pessário cervical. Este estudo considerou dados da medida do colo uterino entre mulheres assintomáticas, desenvolvendo uma curva de referência para gestantes gemelares e sua capacidade de predição do parto prematuro através de curva ROC (receiver operating characteristics) e curvas de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meyer. Resultados O total de 253 gestantes foram incluídos no estudo, A média do CL foi 33.7mm e a mediana 35.5mm. O Percentil 10 do CL foi 17.8mm. A taxa de parto prematuro foi de 73.9% (187/253) com 33.6% de sPTB < 37 (85/253) e 15% (38/253) de sPTB < 34 semanas. O melhor ponto de corte para predizer sPTB < 37 foi 24.15 mm, entretanto a curva ROC demonstrou baixa performance (0.64). A curva de Kaplan-Meier para sPTB identificou que apenas CL ≤ 20 mm estavam associados a sPTB < 34 semanas. Conclusão Colo uterino ≤20 mm pode ser um interessante ponto de corte para identificar colo curto entre gestações gemelares assintomáticas brasileiras. Entretanto, a medida do colo uterino não apresentou boa performance para predizer parto prematuro.

Prevalência e tendência temporal da prematuridade no Brasil antes e durante a pandemia de covid-19: análise da série histórica 2011-2021 / Prevalencia y tendencia temporal de la prematuridad en Brasil antes y durante la pandemia de COVID-19: análisis de la serie histórica de 2011 a 2021 / Prevalence and temporal trend of prematurity in Brazil before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a historical time series analysis, 2011-2021

Objetivo: mensurar a prevalência de prematuridade segundo macrorregião brasileira e características maternas, nos últimos 11 anos; comparar as proporções durante a pandemia de covid-19 (2020-2021) com as da série histórica (2011-2019). Métodos: estudo ecológico, com dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos; prevalências calculadas segundo ano, macrorregião e características maternas; análise da série temporal pelo modelo de Prais-Winsten. Resultados: a prevalência de prematuridade em 2011-2021 foi de 11,1%, estável; a média no período pandêmico 11,3% (IC95% 11,2;11,4%) assemelhou-se à do período-base 11,0% (IC95% 10,6;11,5%); a região Norte (11,6%) apresentou a maior proporção entre 2011 e 2021; gestação gemelar (56,3%) e gestantes com 4-6 consultas de pré-natal (16,7%) apresentaram tendência crescente (p-valor < 0,001); observou-se maior prevalência para extremos de idade materna, gestantes de raça/cor da pele preta, indígenas e menor escolaridade. Conclusão: maior prematuridade nas gestantes socialmente vulneráveis, em gestações gemelares e no Norte; prevalência estável, sem diferença entre períodos.

Objetivo: medir la prevalência de prematuridad de 2011 a 2021, según macrorregión brasileña y características maternas, comparando los años de pandemia de COVID-19, con 2011-2019. Métodos: estudio ecológico basado en el Sistema de Información de Nacimientos Vivos. Prevalencias calculadas según año, macrorregión y características maternas. Análisis de series temporales por el modelo generalizado de Prais-Winsten. Resultados: la prematuridad entre 2011-2021 fue 11,1%, con estabilidade; la media de en el periodo de la pandemia 11,3% (IC95% 11,2;11,4) se asemejó a la media de referencia 11,0% (IC95% 10,6;11,5). Región del norte tuvo la proporción más alta entre 2011 y 2021. Embarazo gemelar y mujeres con 4-6 visitas prenatales tuvieron tendencia al aumento. Prevalencias más elevadas correspondían a la edad materna extrema, mujeres embarazadas negras e indígenas y niveles de educación más bajos. Conclusión: mayor prematuridad en situación de vulnerabilidad social, embarazos gemelares y de la Región Norte. Proporciones se mantuvieron estables, sin diferencias entre períodos.

Objective: to measure the prevalence of prematurity according to the Brazilian macro-regions and maternal characteristics over the past 11 years; to compare the proportions during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) with those of the historical series (2011-2019). Methods: this was an ecological study, with data from the Live Birth Information System; the prevalence was calculated according to year, macro-region and maternal characteristics; time series analysis was performed using Prais-Winsten regression model. Results: the prevalence of preterm birth in 2011-2021 was 11.1%, stable; the average in the pandemic period 11.3% (95%CI 11.2;11.4%) was similar to that of the base period 11.0% (95%CI 10.6;11.5%); the North region (11.6%) showed the highest proportion between 2011 and 2021; twin pregnancy (56.3%) and pregnant women who had 4-6 prenatal care visits (16.7%) showed an increasing trend (p-value < 0.001); the highest prevalence was observed for extremes of maternal age, pregnant women of Black race/skin color, indigenous women and those with lower level of education. Conclusion: preterm birth rates were highest for socially vulnerable pregnant women, twin pregnancies and in the North; stable prevalence, with no difference between periods.

Perceived racism or racial discrimination and the risk of adverse obstetric outcomes: a systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Racial disparities are differences among distinct subgroups of the human species; biologically, there are no scientifically proven reasons for them to exist. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of racism or racial discrimination on obstetric outcomes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review conducted at a tertiary/academic hospital. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, SCOPUS/EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception to June 2020. Studies presenting any type of racial discrimination, or any manifestation of racism that was perceived by women of any age in an obstetric scenario were included. Studies that only assessed racial disparities without including direct racism were excluded. The secondary outcomes evaluated included quality of antenatal care, intra and postpartum care, preterm birth and birthweight. The Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) scale was used to assess the quality of evidence from non-randomized studies. RESULTS: A total of 508 records were retrieved and 29 were selected for qualitative synthesis. No meta-analysis could be performed due to the high heterogeneity across studies. Perceived racism was associated as a risk factor in 7/10 studies focusing on pregnancy and postpartum maternal outcomes, five studies on preterm birth, one study on small for gestational age and two studies on low birthweight. Overall, among the 29 studies, the risk of bias was classified as moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived racism presented an association with poor obstetric outcomes. Anti-racist measures are needed in order to address the problems that are causing patients to perceive or experience racism. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO database, CRD42020194382

Determinantes do nascimento prematuro: proposta de um modelo teórico hierarquizado / Determinants of preterm birth: proposal for a hierarchical theoretical model

Resumo O nascimento prematuro (NP) é uma síndrome resultante de uma complexa relação entre múltiplos fatores que não possuem relações e causalidade totalmente compreendidas. Esse artigo traz uma discussão de um modelo teórico hierarquizado dos determinantes de NP, considerando características maternas como aspectos sociodemográficos, psicossociais, nutricionais, comportamentais e biológicos, tradicionalmente associados ao risco aumentado de NP. As variáveis foram distribuídas em seis dimensões, alocadas em três níveis hierárquicos (distal, intermediário e proximal). Nesse modelo, os determinantes socioeconômicos da mãe, da família, do domicílio e do bairro exercem efeitos indiretos sobre o NP por meio de variáveis no nível intermediário, que por sua vez afetam fatores biológicos de risco no nível proximal, os quais apresentam um efeito direto sobre o NP. O estudo adota um modelo teórico hierarquizado dos fatores envolvidos na cadeia de determinação do NP e suas inter-relações. O entendimento dessas inter-relações é um passo importante na tentativa de interromper a cadeia causal que torna algumas mulheres vulneráveis ao parto prematuro.

Abstract Preterm birth (PB) is a syndrome resulting from a complex relationship between multiple factors which do not have fully understood relationships and causality. This article discusses a hierarchical theoretical model of PB determinants, considering maternal characteristics such as sociodemographic, psychosocial, nutritional, behavioral and biological aspects, traditionally associated with increased risk of PB. The variables were distributed in six dimensions within three hierarchical levels (distal, intermediate and proximal). In this model, the socioeconomic determinants of the mother, family, household and neighborhood play indirect effects on PB through variables at the intermediate level, which in turn affect biological risk factors at the proximal level that have a direct effect on PB. The study presents a hierarchical theoretical model of the factors involved in the PB determination chain and their interrelationships. Understanding these interrelationships is an important step in trying to break the causal chain that makes some women vulnerable to preterm birth.