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Preterm birth (PTB) and early term birth (ETB) are associated with high risks of perinatal mortality and morbidity. While extreme to very PTBs have been extensively studied, studies on infants born at later stages of pregnancy, particularly late PTBs and ETBs, are lacking. In this study, we aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and feto-maternal outcomes of PTB and ETB births in Qatar. We examined 15,865 singleton live births using 12-month retrospective registry data from the PEARL-Peristat Study. PTB and ETB incidence rates were 8.8% and 33.7%, respectively. PTB and ETB in-hospital mortality rates were 16.9% and 0.2%, respectively. Advanced maternal age, pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM), assisted pregnancies, and preterm history independently predicted both PTB and ETB, whereas chromosomal and congenital abnormalities were found to be independent predictors of PTB but not ETB. All groups of PTB and ETB were significantly associated with low birth weight (LBW), large for gestational age (LGA) births, caesarean delivery, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)/or death of neonate in labor room (LR)/operation theatre (OT). On the other hand, all or some groups of PTB were significantly associated with small for gestational age (SGA) births, Apgar < 7 at 1 and 5 min and in-hospital mortality. The findings of this study may serve as a basis for taking better clinical decisions with accurate assessment of risk factors, complications, and predictions of PTB and ETB.

To evaluate the association between the early pregnancy vaginal microbiome and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and early term birth (sETB) among African American women. Vaginal samples collected in early pregnancy (8-14 weeks' gestation) from 436 women enrolled in the Emory University African American Vaginal, Oral, and Gut Microbiome in Pregnancy Study underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 region, taxonomic classification, and community state type (CST) assignment. We compared vaginal CST and abundance of taxa for women whose pregnancy ended in sPTB (N = 44) or sETB (N= 84) to those who delivered full term (N = 231). Nearly half of the women had a vaginal microbiome classified as CST IV (Diverse CST), while one-third had CST III ( dominated) and just 16% had CST I, II, or V (non-iners dominated). Compared to vaginal CST I, II, or V (non-iners dominated), both CST III ( dominated) and CST IV (Diverse) were associated with sPTB with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 4.1 (1.1, infinity) and 7.7 (2.2, infinity), respectively, in multivariate logistic regression. In contrast, no vaginal CST was associated with sETB. The linear decomposition model (LDM) based on amplicon sequence variant (ASV) relative abundance found a significant overall effect of the vaginal microbiome on sPTB (p=0.034) but not sETB (p=0.320), whereas the LDM based on presence/absence of ASV found no overall effect on sPTB (p=0.328) but a significant effect on sETB (p=0.030). In testing for ASV-specific effects, the LDM found that no ASV was significantly associated with sPTB considering either relative abundance or presence/absence data after controlling for multiple comparisons (FDR 10%), although in marginal analysis the relative abundance of (p=0.011), non-iners (p=0.016), and (p=0.035) and the presence of (p=0.049), BVAB2 (p=0.024), (p=0.011), and (p=0.044) were associated with sPTB. The LDM identified the higher abundance of 7 ASVs and the presence of 13 ASVs, all commonly residents of the gut, as associated with sETB at FDR < 10%. In this cohort of African American women, an early pregnancy vaginal CST III or IV was associated with an increased risk of sPTB but not sETB. The relative abundance and presence of distinct taxa within the early pregnancy vaginal microbiome was associated with either sPTB or sETB.

ObjectiveExamine the risk of preterm birth (PTB, < 37 weeks) and early term birth (37–38 weeks) for women with reported drug abuse/dependence.Study DesignThe population was drawn from singleton livebirths in California from 2007 to 2012. Drug abuse/dependence was determined from maternal diagnostic codes (opioid, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine, other, or polysubstance). Relative risks, adjusted for maternal factors were calculated for PTB and early term birth.ResultOf the 2,890,555 women in the sample, 1.7% (n = 48,133) had a diagnostic code for drug abuse/dependence. The percentage of PTBs varied from 11.6% (cannabis) to 24.3% (cocaine), compared with 6.7% of women without reported drug abuse/dependence.ConclusionWomen with reported drug abuse/dependence during pregnancy were at increased risk of having a PTB and all but those using cannabis were at risk of having an early term birth. Women using cocaine and polysubstance were at the highest risk of birth < 32 weeks.

Background The incidences of early term and late preterm birth have increased worldwide during recent years. However, there is a lack of prospective study about the influence of early term and late preterm birth on infants’ neurodevelopment, especially at the early stage. Therefore, we conducted this cohort study to investigate the impact of early term and late preterm birth on infants’ neurodevelopment within 6 months. Methods This cohort study was conducted in Wuhan, China, between October 2012 and September 2013. A total of 4243 singleton infants born within 34-41 weeks of gestation at Wuhan Children’s Hospital were included. The Gesell Developmental Scale (GDS) was utilized to evaluate the neurodevelopment of infants. Results Among the 4243 included participants, 155 (3.65%) were late preterm infants, 1288 (30.36%) were early term infants, and 2800 (65.99%) were full term infants. After adjusted for potential confounders, significant negative relationship was shown between late preterm birth and development quotient (DQ) in all domains of neurodevelopment: gross motor ( β  = − 17.42, 95% CI : − 21.15 to − 13.69), fine motor ( β  = − 23.61, 95% CI : − 28.52 to − 18.69), adaptability ( β  = − 10.10, 95% CI : − 13.82 to − 6.38), language ( β  = − 6.28, 95% CI : − 9.82 to − 2.74) and social behavior ( β  = − 5.99, 95% CI : − 9.59 to − 2.39). There was a significant negative trend for early term birth in DQ of fine motor ( β  = − 2.01, 95% CI : − 3.93 to − 0.09). Late preterm infants had a significantly elevated risk of neurodevelopmental delay in domains of gross motor (adjusted OR  = 3.82, 95% CI : 2.67 to 5.46), fine motor (adjusted OR  = 3.51, 95% CI : 2.47 to 5.01), and adaptability (adjusted OR  = 1.60, 95% CI : 1.12 to 2.29), whereas early term birth was significantly associated with neurodevelopmental delay of fine motor (adjusted OR  = 1.22, 95% CI : 1.05 to 1.42). Conclusions This study suggested that late preterm birth mainly elevated the risk of neurodevelopmental delay of gross motor, fine motor, and adaptability, whereas early term birth was associated with the developmental delay of fine motor within 6 months. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness and necessity of the interventions at the early stage for early term and late preterm infants who had suspected neurodevelopmental delay.

Abstract Study Objectives Delivery prior to full term affects 37% of US births, including ~400,000 preterm births (<37 weeks) and >1,000,000 early term births (37–38 weeks). Approximately 70% of cases of shortened gestation are spontaneous—without medically-indicated cause. Elucidation of modifiable behavioral factors would have considerable clinical impact. Methods This study examined the role of depressive symptoms and sleep quality in predicting the odds of spontaneous shortened gestation among 317 women (135 black, 182 white) who completed psychosocial assessment in mid-pregnancy. Results Adjusting for key covariates, black women had 1.89 times higher odds of spontaneous shortened gestation compared to White women (OR [95% CI] = 1.89 [1.01, 3.53], p = 0.046). Women who reported only poor subjective sleep quality (PSQI > 6) or only elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16) exhibited no statistically significant differences in odds of spontaneous shortened gestation compared to those with neither risk factor. However, women with comorbid poor sleep and depressive symptoms exhibited markedly higher odds of spontaneous shortened gestation than those with neither risk factor (39.2% versus 15.7% [OR (95% CI) = 2.69 (1.27, 5.70)], p = 0.01). A higher proportion of black women met criteria for both risk factors (23% of black women versus 11% of white women; p = 0.004), with a lower proportion experiencing neither risk factor (40.7% of black versus 64.3% of white women; p < 0.001). Conclusions Additive effects of poor subjective sleep quality and depressive symptoms were observed with markedly higher odds of spontaneous shortened gestation among women with both risk factors. Racial inequities in rates of comorbid exposure corresponded with inequities in shortened gestation. Future empirical studies and intervention efforts should consider the interactive effects of these commonly co-morbid exposures.

Background The effect of heatwaves on adverse birth outcomes is not well understood and may vary by how heatwaves are defined. The study aims to examine acute associations between various heatwave definitions and preterm and early-term birth. Methods Using national vital records from 50 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) between 1982 and 1988, singleton preterm (< 37 weeks) and early-term births (37–38 weeks) were matched (1:1) to controls who completed at least 37 weeks or 39 weeks of gestation, respectively. Matching variables were MSA, maternal race, and maternal education. Sixty heatwave definitions including binary indicators for exposure to sustained heat, number of high heat days, and measures of heat intensity (the average degrees over the threshold in the past 7 days) based on the 97.5 th percentile of MSA-specific temperature metrics, or the 85 th percentile of positive excessive heat factor (EHF) were created. Odds ratios (OR) for heatwave exposures in the week preceding birth (or corresponding gestational week for controls) were estimated using conditional logistic regression adjusting for maternal age, marital status, and seasonality. Effect modification by maternal education, age, race/ethnicity, child sex, and region was assessed. Results There were 615,329 preterm and 1,005,576 early-term case-control pairs in the analyses. For most definitions, exposure to heatwaves in the week before delivery was consistently associated with increased odds of early-term birth. Exposure to more high heat days and more degrees above the threshold yielded higher magnitude ORs. For exposure to 3 or more days over the 97.5 th percentile of mean temperature in the past week compared to zero days, the OR was 1.027 for early-term birth (95%CI: 1.014, 1.039). Although we generally found null associations when assessing various heatwave definitions and preterm birth, ORs for both preterm and early-term birth were greater in magnitude among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black mothers. Conclusion Although associations varied across metrics and heatwave definitions, heatwaves were more consistently associated with early-term birth than with preterm birth. This study’s findings may have implications for prevention programs targeting vulnerable subgroups as climate change progresses.

Shortening of the gestational duration has been found associated with ambient air pollution exposure. However, the critical exposure windows of ambient air pollution for gestational duration remain inconsistent, and the association between ambient air pollution and early term births (ETB, 37 to 38 weeks) has rarely been studied relative to preterm births (PTB, 28–37 weeks). A time-series study was conducted in Shiyan, a medium-sized city in China. Birth information was collected from the Shiyan Maternity and Child Health Hospital, and 13,111 pregnant women who gave birth between 2015 and 2017 were included. Data of the concentrations of air pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 and meteorological data, were collected in the corresponding gestational period. The Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the relationship between ambient air pollution exposure and the risk of preterm birth after controlling the confounders, including maternal age, education, Gravidity, parity, fetal gender, and delivery mode. Very preterm birth (VPTB, 28–32 weeks) as a subtype of PTB was also incorporated in this study. The risk of VPTB and ETB was positively associated with maternal ambient air pollution exposure, and the correlation of gaseous pollutants was stronger than particulate matter. With respect to exposure windows, the critical trimester of air pollutants for different adverse pregnancy outcomes was different. The exposure windows of PM10, PM2.5, and SO2 for ETB were found in the third trimester, with HRs (hazard ratios) of 1.06 (95%CI: 1.04, 1.09), 1.07 (95%CI: 1.04, 1.11), and 1.28 (95%CI: 1.20, 1.35), respectively. However, for NO2, the second and third trimesters exhibited similar results, the HRs reaching 1.10 (95%CI: 1.03, 6.17) and 1.09 (95%CI: 1.03,1.15), respectively. This study extends and strengthen the evidence for a significant correlation between the ambient air pollution exposure during pregnancy and the risk of not only PTB but, also, ETB. Moreover, our findings suggest that the exposure windows during pregnancy vary with different air pollutants and pregnancy outcomes.

ObjectivesTo estimate the national rate of early-term live births in Brazil and to evaluate the effect of birth at 37 and 38 weeks’ gestation, as compared with 39 and 40 weeks’ gestation on infant outcomes according to precursors of birth and the existence of maternal/fetal medical conditions.DesignNational perinatal population-based cohort study.Setting266 maternity services located in the five Brazilian macroregions.Participants18 652 singleton live newborns from 37 0/7 to 40 6/7 weeks of gestation.Main outcome measuresResuscitation in delivery room, oxygen therapy, transient tachypnoea, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), hypoglycaemia, use of antibiotics, phototherapy, phototherapy after hospital discharge, neonatal death and breastfeeding.ResultsEarly terms accounted for 35% (95% CI 33.4% to 36.7%) of all live births. Among provider-initiated births in women without medical conditions, infants of 37 and 38 weeks’ gestation had higher odds of oxygen therapy (adjusted OR (AOR) 2.93, 95% CI 1.72 to 4.98 and AOR 1.92 95% CI 1.18 to 3.13), along with admission to NICU (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.41 and AOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.60), neonatal death (AOR 14.40, 95% CI 1.94 to 106.69 and AOR 13.76,95% CI 2.84 to 66.75), hypoglycaemia in the first 48 hours of life (AOR 7.86, 95% CI 1.95 to 31.71 and AOR 5.76, 95% CI 1.63 to 20.32), transient tachypnoea (AOR 2.98, 95% CI 1.57 to 5.65 and AOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.00 to 4.48) and the need for phototherapy within the first 72 hours of life (AOR 3.59, 95% CI 1.95 to 6.60 and AOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.49 to 3.53), yet lower odds of breastfeeding up to 1 hour after birth (AOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.86 and AOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.99) and exclusive breastfeeding during hospital stay (AOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.89 and AOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.99).ConclusionBirth at 37 and 38 weeks’ gestation increased the risk of most adverse infant outcomes analysed, especially among provider-initiated births and should be avoided before 39 weeks’ gestation in healthy pregnancies.

ObjectivesTo investigate whether risk factors for preterm (<37 weeks gestation) and early-term birth (37 and 38 weeks gestation) are similar.DesignNationally representative cross-sectional study of births.SettingFrance in 2010.ParticipantsLive singleton births (n=14 326).Primary and secondary outcome measuresPreterm and early-term birth rates overall and by mode of delivery (spontaneous and indicated). Risk factors were maternal sociodemographic characteristics, previous preterm birth, height, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and smoking, assessed using multinomial regression models with full-term births 39 weeks and over as the reference group.ResultsThere were 5.5% preterm and 22.5% early-term births. Common risk factors were: a previous preterm delivery (adjusted relative risk ratio (aRRR) 8.2 (95% CI 6.2 to 10.7) and aRRR 2.4 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.0), respectively), short stature, underweight (overall and in spontaneous deliveries), obesity (in indicated deliveries only), a low educational level and Sub-Saharan African origin. In contrast, primiparity was a risk factor only for preterm birth, aRRR 1.8 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.2), while higher parity was associated with greater risk of early-term birth.ConclusionsMost population-level risk factors were common to both preterm and early-term birth with the exception of primiparity, and BMI which differed by mode of onset of delivery. Our results suggest that preterm and early-term birth share similar aetiologies and thus potentially common strategies for prevention.

Background Cesarean section (CS) rates are increasing worldwide and are associated with negative maternal and child health outcomes when performed without medical indication. However, there is still limited knowledge about the association between high CS rates and early-term births. This study explored the association between CSs and early-term births according to the Robson classification. Methods A population-based, cross-sectional study was performed with routine registration data of live births in Brazil between 2012 and 2019. We used the Robson classification system to compare groups with expected high and low CS rates. We used propensity scores to compare CSs to vaginal deliveries (1:1) and estimated associations with early-term births using logistic regression. Results A total of 17,081,685 live births were included. Births via CS had higher odds of early-term birth (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.32–1.32) compared to vaginal deliveries. Births by CS to women in Group 2 (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.49–1.51) and 4 (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.56–1.58) showed the highest odds of early-term birth, compared to vaginal deliveries. Increased odds of an early-term birth were also observed among births by CS to women in Group 3 (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.29–1.31), compared to vaginal deliveries. In addition, live births by CS to women with a previous CS (Group 5 - OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.35–1.37), a single breech pregnancy (Group 6 - OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.11–1.21, and Group 7 - OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.16–1.23), and multiple pregnancies (Group 8 - OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.40–1.52) had high odds of an early-term birth, compared to live births by vaginal delivery. Conclusions CSs were associated with increased odds of early-term births. The highest odds of early-term birth were observed among those births by CS in Robson Groups 2 and 4.