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Goldenberg RL, Saleem S, Aziz A, McClure EM. International progress on stillbirth reduction: Changes in Stillbirth Rates in Selected Low and Middle-Income Countries from 2000 to 2021. Semin Perinatol 2024; 48:151868. [PMID: 38281882 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2023.151868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, we attempted to determine if there were reductions in low and middle - income country stillbirth rates since 2000 - focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. We used data made available by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation and the World Health Organization as well as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research.. Overall, nearly every country evaluated had at least a small reduction in stillbirth rate from the year 2000 to 2021, but the reductions varied substantially between regions. Asia and Latin America/Caribbean had similar levels of reductions with a number of countries in each of those regions having rates in 2021 that were 40 % or more lower than those documented in 2000. No country in Africa documented a reduction in stillbirths of 40 % and many had stillbirth reductions of less than 15 %.
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Smith LK, van Blankenstein E, Fox G, Seaton SE, Martínez-Jiménez M, Petrou S, Battersby C. Effect of national guidance on survival for babies born at 22 weeks' gestation in England and Wales: population based cohort study. BMJ MEDICINE 2023; 2:e000579. [PMID: 38027415 PMCID: PMC10649719 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2023-000579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To explore the effect of changes in national clinical recommendations in 2019 that extended provision of survival focused care to babies born at 22 weeks' gestation in England and Wales. Design Population based cohort study. Setting England and Wales, comprising routine data for births and hospital records. Participants Babies alive at the onset of care in labour at 22 weeks+0 days to 22 weeks+6 days and at 23 weeks+0 days to 24 weeks+6 days for comparison purposes between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. Main outcome measures Percentage of babies given survival focused care (active respiratory support after birth), admitted to neonatal care, and surviving to discharge in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Results For the 1001 babies alive at the onset of labour at 22 weeks' gestation, a threefold increase was noted in: survival focused care provision from 11.3% to 38.4% (risk ratio 3.41 (95% confidence interval 2.61 to 4.45)); admissions to neonatal units from 7.4% to 28.1% (3.77 (2.70 to 5.27)), and survival to discharge from neonatal care from 2.5% to 8.2% (3.29 (1.78 to 6.09)). More babies of lower birth weight and early gestational age received survival focused care in 2020-21 than 2018-19 (46% to 64% at <500g weight; 19% to 31% at 22 weeks+0 days to 22 weeks+3 days). Conclusions A change in national guidance to recommend a risk based approach was associated with a threefold increase in 22 weeks' gestation babies receiving survival focused care. The number of babies being admitted to neonatal units and those surviving to discharge increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy K Smith
- Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Emily van Blankenstein
- Neonatal Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Grenville Fox
- Neonatology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sarah E Seaton
- Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Mario Martínez-Jiménez
- Department of Economics and Public Policy, Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation, Imperial College Business School, London, UK
| | - Stavros Petrou
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care and Health Science, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Cheryl Battersby
- Neonatal Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Suárez-Idueta L, Blencowe H, Okwaraji YB, Yargawa J, Bradley E, Gordon A, Flenady V, Paixao ES, Barreto ML, Lisonkova S, Wen Q, Velebil P, Jírová J, Horváth-Puhó E, Sørensen HT, Sakkeus L, Abuladze L, Yunis KA, Al Bizri A, Barranco A, Broeders L, van Dijk AE, Alyafei F, Olukade TO, Razaz N, Söderling J, Smith LK, Draper ES, Lowry E, Rowland N, Wood R, Monteath K, Pereyra I, Pravia G, Ohuma EO, Lawn JE. Neonatal mortality risk for vulnerable newborn types in 15 countries using 125.5 million nationwide birth outcome records, 2000-2020. BJOG 2023. [PMID: 37156244 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare neonatal mortality associated with six novel vulnerable newborn types in 125.5 million live births across 15 countries, 2000-2020. DESIGN Population-based, multi-country study. SETTING National data systems in 15 middle- and high-income countries. METHODS We used individual-level data sets identified for the Vulnerable Newborn Measurement Collaboration. We examined the contribution to neonatal mortality of six newborn types combining gestational age (preterm [PT] versus term [T]) and size-for-gestational age (small [SGA], <10th centile, appropriate [AGA], 10th-90th centile or large [LGA], >90th centile) according to INTERGROWTH-21st newborn standards. Newborn babies with PT or SGA were defined as small and T + LGA was considered as large. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and population attributable risks (PAR%) for the six newborn types. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mortality of six newborn types. RESULTS Of 125.5 million live births analysed, risk ratios were highest among PT + SGA (median 67.2, interquartile range [IQR] 45.6-73.9), PT + AGA (median 34.3, IQR 23.9-37.5) and PT + LGA (median 28.3, IQR 18.4-32.3). At the population level, PT + AGA was the greatest contributor to newborn mortality (median PAR% 53.7, IQR 44.5-54.9). Mortality risk was highest among newborns born before 28 weeks (median RR 279.5, IQR 234.2-388.5) compared with babies born between 37 and 42 completed weeks or with a birthweight less than 1000 g (median RR 282.8, IQR 194.7-342.8) compared with those between 2500 g and 4000 g as a reference group. CONCLUSION Preterm newborn types were the most vulnerable, and associated with the highest mortality, particularly with co-existence of preterm and SGA. As PT + AGA is more prevalent, it is responsible for the greatest burden of neonatal deaths at population level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Yemisrach B Okwaraji
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Judith Yargawa
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ellen Bradley
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Adrienne Gordon
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vicki Flenady
- Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Enny S Paixao
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Centre for Data Integration and Knowledge for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz Bahia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Mauricio L Barreto
- Centre for Data Integration and Knowledge for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz Bahia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Sarka Lisonkova
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Qi Wen
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Petr Velebil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Jírová
- Department of Data Analysis, Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Erzsebet Horváth-Puhó
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Henrik Toft Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Luule Sakkeus
- School of Governance, Law and Society, Estonian Institute for Population Studies, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Liili Abuladze
- School of Governance, Law and Society, Estonian Institute for Population Studies, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
- Finnish Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Khalid A Yunis
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ayah Al Bizri
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Arturo Barranco
- Directorate of Health Information, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Neda Razaz
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Söderling
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lucy K Smith
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Elizabeth S Draper
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Estelle Lowry
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Neil Rowland
- Queen's Management School, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Rachael Wood
- Public Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kirsten Monteath
- Pregnancy, Birth and Child Health Team, Public Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Isabel Pereyra
- Department of Wellness and Health, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriella Pravia
- Department of Wellness and Health, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eric O Ohuma
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH) Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Trinh NT, de Visme S, Cohen JF, Bruckner T, Lelong N, Adnot P, Rozé JC, Blondel B, Goffinet F, Rey G, Ancel PY, Zeitlin J, Chalumeau M. Recent historic increase of infant mortality in France: A time-series analysis, 2001 to 2019. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2022; 16:100339. [PMID: 35252944 PMCID: PMC8891691 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The infant mortality rate (IMR) serves as a key indicator of population health. Methods We used data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies on births and deaths during the first year of life from 2001 to 2019 to calculate IMR aggregated by month. We ran joinpoint regressions to identify inflection points and assess the linear trend of each segment. Exploratory analyses were performed for overall IMR, as well as by age at death subgroups (early neonatal [D0-D6], late neonatal [D7-27], and post-neonatal [D28-364]), and by sex. We performed sensitivity analyses by excluding deaths at D0 and using other time-series modeling strategies. Results Over the 19-year study period, 53,077 infant deaths occurred, for an average IMR of 3·63/1000 (4·00 in male, 3·25 in female); 24·4% of these deaths occurred during the first day of life and 47·8% during the early neonatal period. Joinpoint analysis identified two inflection points in 2005 and 2012. The IMR decreased sharply from 2001 to 2005 (slope: -0·0167 deaths/1000 live births/month; 95%CI: -0·0219 to -0·0116) and then decreased slowly between 2005 and 2012 (slope: -0·0041; 95%CI: -0·0065 to -0·0016). From 2012 onwards, a significant increase in IMR was observed (slope: 0·0033; 95%CI: 0·0011 to 0·0056). Subgroup analyses indicated that these trends were driven notably by an increase in the early neonatal period. Sensitivity analyses provided consistent results. Interpretation The recent historic increase in IMR since 2012 in France should prompt urgent in-depth investigation to understand the causes and prepare corrective actions. Funding No financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years, no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
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Gissler M, Durox M, Smith L, Blondel B, Broeders L, Hindori-Mohangoo A, Kearns K, Kolarova R, Loghi M, Rodin U, Szamotulska K, Velebil P, Weber G, Zurriaga O, Zeitlin J. Clarity and consistency in stillbirth reporting in Europe: why is it so hard to get this right? Eur J Public Health 2022; 32:200-206. [PMID: 35157046 PMCID: PMC8975542 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stillbirth is a major public health problem, but measurement remains a challenge even in high-income countries. We compared routine stillbirth statistics in Europe reported by Eurostat with data from the Euro-Peristat research network. Methods We used data on stillbirths in 2015 from both sources for 31 European countries. Stillbirth rates per 1000 total births were analyzed by gestational age (GA) and birthweight groups. Information on termination of pregnancy at ≥22 weeks’ GA was analyzed separately. Results Routinely collected stillbirth rates were higher than those reported by the research network. For stillbirths with a birthweight ≥500 g, the difference between the mean rates of the countries for Eurostat and Euro-Peristat data was 22% [4.4/1000, versus 3.5/1000, mean difference 0.9 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.0]. When using a birthweight threshold of 1000 g, this difference was smaller, 12% (2.9/1000, versus 2.5/1000, mean difference 0.4 with 95% CI 0.3–0.5), but substantial differences remained for individual countries. In Euro-Peristat, missing data on birthweight ranged from 0% to 29% (average 5.0%) and were higher than missing data for GA (0–23%, average 1.8%). Conclusions Routine stillbirth data for European countries in international databases are not comparable and should not be used for benchmarking or surveillance without careful verification with other sources. Recommendations for improvement include using a cut-off based on GA, excluding late terminations of pregnancy and linking multiple sources to improve the quality of national databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mika Gissler
- THL Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mélanie Durox
- Université de Paris, CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé), INSERM, INRA, Paris, F-75004, France
| | - Lucy Smith
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Béatrice Blondel
- THL Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland and Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa Broeders
- The Netherlands Perinatal Registry (Perined), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ashna Hindori-Mohangoo
- Foundation for Perinatal Interventions and Research in Suriname (PeriSur), Paramaribo, Suriname.,Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA
| | - Karen Kearns
- National Finance Division, Healthcare Pricing Office, HSE, Dublin
| | | | - Marzia Loghi
- Directorate for Social Statistics and Welfare, Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT), Rome, Italy
| | - Urelija Rodin
- Croatian Institute of Public Health, School of Public Health 'Andrija Štampar', School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Katarzyna Szamotulska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Research Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Petr Velebil
- Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Guy Weber
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Directorate of Health, Luxembourg
| | - Oscar Zurriaga
- Public Health General Directorate, Valencia Regional Public Health Authority, Spain.,Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department, University of Valencia, Spain.,Centre for Network Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- Université de Paris, CRESS, Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé), INSERM, INRA, Paris, F-75004, France
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei S Morgan
- Université de Paris, Epidemiology and Statistics Research Center/CRESS, INSERM U1153 EPOPé, INRA, Paris, France
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health London, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Neonatal Medicine, Maternité Port-Royal, Association Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Paris, France
| | - Marina Mendonça
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Nicole Thiele
- European Foundation for Care of the Newborn Infant, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna L David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health London, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, University College London Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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Morgan AS, Zeitlin J, Källén K, Draper ES, Maršál K, Norman M, Serenius F, van Buuren S, Johnson S, Benhammou V, Pierrat V, Kaminski M, Foix L'Helias L, Ancel P, Marlow N. Birth outcomes between 22 and 26 weeks' gestation in national population-based cohorts from Sweden, England and France. Acta Paediatr 2022; 111:59-75. [PMID: 34469604 PMCID: PMC9291863 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIM We investigated the timing of survival differences and effects on morbidity for foetuses alive at maternal admission to hospital delivered at 22 to 26 weeks' gestational age (GA). METHODS Data from the EXPRESS (Sweden, 2004-07), EPICure-2 (England, 2006) and EPIPAGE-2 (France, 2011) cohorts were harmonised. Survival, stratified by GA, was analysed to 112 days using Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox regression adjusted for population and pregnancy characteristics; neonatal morbidities, survival to discharge and follow-up and outcomes at 2-3 years of age were compared. RESULTS Among 769 EXPRESS, 2310 EPICure-2 and 1359 EPIPAGE-2 foetuses, 112-day survival was, respectively, 28.2%, 10.8% and 0.5% at 22-23 weeks' GA; 68.5%, 40.0% and 23.6% at 24 weeks; 80.5%, 64.8% and 56.9% at 25 weeks; and 86.6%, 77.1% and 74.4% at 26 weeks. Deaths were most marked in EPIPAGE-2 before 1 day at 22-23 and 24 weeks GA. At 25 weeks, survival varied before 28 days; differences at 26 weeks were minimal. Cox analyses were consistent with the Kaplan-Meier analyses. Variations in morbidities were not clearly associated with survival. CONCLUSION Differences in survival and morbidity outcomes for extremely preterm births are evident despite adjustment for background characteristics. No clear relationship was identified between early mortality and later patterns of morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei S. Morgan
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
- UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health LondonUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of NeonatologyMaternity Port RoyalAssistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de ParisParisFrance
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
| | - Karin Källén
- Centre of Reproductive EpidemiologyLund UniversityLundSweden
| | | | - Karel Maršál
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySkåne University HospitalLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Mikael Norman
- Division of PediatricsDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention, and TechnologyKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
- Department of Neonatal MedicineKarolinksa University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Fredrik Serenius
- Department of Women's and Children's HealthUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Stef van Buuren
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNOLeidenNetherlands
- Methodology & StatisticsUtrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | | | - Valérie Benhammou
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
| | - Véronique Pierrat
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
| | - Monique Kaminski
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
| | - Laurence Foix L'Helias
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
- Sorbonne UniversityParisFrance
- Department of Neonatal Pediatrics, Trousseau HospitalAssistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de ParisParisFrance
| | - Pierre‐Yves Ancel
- Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (EPOPé)CRESSINSERMINRAEUniversité de ParisParisFrance
- Clinical Investigation Center P1419Assistance Publique‐Hôpitaux de ParisParisFrance
| | - Neil Marlow
- UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's Health LondonUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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Epidemiology of Antepartum Stillbirths in Austria-A Population-Based Study between 2008 and 2020. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10245828. [PMID: 34945123 PMCID: PMC8709287 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10245828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Across Europe, the incidence of antepartum stillbirth varies greatly, partly because of heterogeneous definitions regarding gestational weeks and differences in legislation. With this study, we sought to provide a comprehensive overview on the demographics of antepartum stillbirth in Austria, defined as non-iatrogenic fetal demise ≥22+0 gestational weeks (/40). (2) Methods: We conducted a population-based study on epidemiological characteristics of singleton antepartum stillbirth in Austria between January 2008 and December 2020. Data were derived from the validated Austrian Birth Registry. (3) Results: From January 2008 through December 2020, the antepartum stillbirth rate ≥20+0/40 was 3.10, ≥22+0/40 3.14, and ≥24+0/40 2.83 per 1000 births in Austria. The highest incidence was recorded in the federal states of Vienna, Styria, and Lower and Upper Austria, contributing to 71.9% of all stillbirths in the country. In the last decade, significant fluctuations in incidence were noted: from 2011 to 2012, the rate significantly declined from 3.40 to 3.07‰, whilst it significantly increased from 2.76 to 3.49‰ between 2019 and 2020. The median gestational age of antepartum stillbirth in Austria was 33+0 (27+2–37+4) weeks. Stillbirth rates ≤26/40 ranged from 164.98 to 334.18‰, whilst the lowest rates of 0.58–8.4‰ were observed ≥36/40. The main demographic risk factors were maternal obesity and low parity. (4) Conclusions: In Austria, the antepartum stillbirth rate has remained relatively stable at 2.83–3.10 per 1000 births for the last decade, despite a significant decline in 2012 and an increase in 2020.
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Hug L, You D, Blencowe H, Mishra A, Wang Z, Fix MJ, Wakefield J, Moran AC, Gaigbe-Togbe V, Suzuki E, Blau DM, Cousens S, Creanga A, Croft T, Hill K, Joseph KS, Maswime S, McClure EM, Pattinson R, Pedersen J, Smith LK, Zeitlin J, Alkema L. Global, regional, and national estimates and trends in stillbirths from 2000 to 2019: a systematic assessment. Lancet 2021; 398:772-785. [PMID: 34454675 PMCID: PMC8417352 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01112-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stillbirths are a major public health issue and a sensitive marker of the quality of care around pregnancy and birth. The UN Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-30) and the Every Newborn Action Plan (led by UNICEF and WHO) call for an end to preventable stillbirths. A first step to prevent stillbirths is obtaining standardised measurement of stillbirth rates across countries. We estimated stillbirth rates and their trends for 195 countries from 2000 to 2019 and assessed progress over time. METHODS For a systematic assessment, we created a dataset of 2833 country-year datapoints from 171 countries relevant to stillbirth rates, including data from registration and health information systems, household-based surveys, and population-based studies. After data quality assessment and exclusions, we used 1531 datapoints to estimate country-specific stillbirth rates for 195 countries from 2000 to 2019 using a Bayesian hierarchical temporal sparse regression model, according to a definition of stillbirth of at least 28 weeks' gestational age. Our model combined covariates with a temporal smoothing process such that estimates were informed by data for country-periods with high quality data, while being based on covariates for country-periods with little or no data on stillbirth rates. Bias and additional uncertainty associated with observations based on alternative stillbirth definitions and source types, and observations that were subject to non-sampling errors, were included in the model. We compared the estimated stillbirth rates and trends to previously reported mortality estimates in children younger than 5 years. FINDINGS Globally in 2019, an estimated 2·0 million babies (90% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·9-2·2) were stillborn at 28 weeks or more of gestation, with a global stillbirth rate of 13·9 stillbirths (90% UI 13·5-15·4) per 1000 total births. Stillbirth rates in 2019 varied widely across regions, from 22·8 stillbirths (19·8-27·7) per 1000 total births in west and central Africa to 2·9 (2·7-3·0) in western Europe. After west and central Africa, eastern and southern Africa and south Asia had the second and third highest stillbirth rates in 2019. The global annual rate of reduction in stillbirth rate was estimated at 2·3% (90% UI 1·7-2·7) from 2000 to 2019, which was lower than the 2·9% (2·5-3·2) annual rate of reduction in neonatal mortality rate (for neonates aged <28 days) and the 4·3% (3·8-4·7) annual rate of reduction in mortality rate among children aged 1-59 months during the same period. Based on the lower bound of the 90% UIs, 114 countries had an estimated decrease in stillbirth rate since 2000, with four countries having a decrease of at least 50·0%, 28 having a decrease of 25·0-49·9%, 50 having a decrease of 10·0-24·9%, and 32 having a decrease of less than 10·0%. For the remaining 81 countries, we found no decrease in stillbirth rate since 2000. Of these countries, 34 were in sub-Saharan Africa, 16 were in east Asia and the Pacific, and 15 were in Latin America and the Caribbean. INTERPRETATION Progress in reducing the rate of stillbirths has been slow compared with decreases in the mortality rate of children younger than 5 years. Accelerated improvements are most needed in the regions and countries with high stillbirth rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Future prevention of stillbirths needs increased efforts to raise public awareness, improve data collection, assess progress, and understand public health priorities locally, all of which require investment. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Hug
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Danzhen You
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hannah Blencowe
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Anu Mishra
- Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhengfan Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Allisyn C Moran
- Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Emi Suzuki
- Development Data Group, World Bank, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Dianna M Blau
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Simon Cousens
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Trevor Croft
- The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, ICF, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | - K S Joseph
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert Pattinson
- SAMRC/UP Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Lucy K Smith
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Leontine Alkema
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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10
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Bruckner TA, Gailey S, Das A, Gemmill A, Casey JA, Catalano R, Shaw GM, Zeitlin J. Stillbirth as left truncation for early neonatal death in California, 1989-2015: a time-series study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:478. [PMID: 34215208 PMCID: PMC8252318 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03852-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some scholars posit that attempts to avert stillbirth among extremely preterm gestations may result in a live birth but an early neonatal death. The literature, however, reports no empirical test of this potential form of left truncation. We examine whether annual cohorts delivered at extremely preterm gestational ages show an inverse correlation between their incidence of stillbirth and early neonatal death. METHODS We retrieved live birth and infant death information from the California Linked Birth and Infant Death Cohort Files for years 1989 to 2015. We defined the extremely preterm period as delivery from 22 to < 28 weeks of gestation and early neonatal death as infant death at less than 7 days of life. We calculated proportions of stillbirth and early neonatal death separately by cohort year, race/ethnicity, and sex. Our correlational analysis controlled for well-documented declines in neonatal mortality over time. RESULTS California reported 89,276 extremely preterm deliveries (live births and stillbirths) to Hispanic, non-Hispanic (NH) Black, and NH white mothers from 1989 to 2015. Findings indicate an inverse correlation between stillbirth and early neonatal death in the same cohort year (coefficient: -0.27, 95% CI of - 0.11; - 0.42). Results remain robust to alternative specifications and falsification tests. CONCLUSIONS Findings support the notion that cohorts with an elevated risk of stillbirth also show a reduced risk of early neonatal death among extremely preterm deliveries. Results add to the evidence base that selection in utero may influence the survival characteristics of live-born cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim A Bruckner
- Program in Public Health & Center for Population, Inequality, and Policy, University of California Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Dr., Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Samantha Gailey
- School of Social Ecology, University of California Irvine, 209 Social Ecology I, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Abhery Das
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Dr., Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Alison Gemmill
- Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Joan A Casey
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Ralph Catalano
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jennifer Zeitlin
- Université de Paris, CRESS, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, INSERM, INRA, F-75004, Paris, France
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11
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Connolly M, Phung L, Farrington E, Scoullar MJL, Wilson AN, Comrie-Thomson L, Homer CSE, Vogel JP. Defining Preterm Birth and Stillbirth in the Western Pacific: A Systematic Review. Asia Pac J Public Health 2021; 33:489-501. [PMID: 34165364 DOI: 10.1177/10105395211026099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preterm birth and stillbirth are important global perinatal health indicators. Definitions of these indicators can differ between countries, affecting comparability of preterm birth and stillbirth rates across countries. This study aimed to document national-level adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) definitions of preterm birth and stillbirth in the WHO Western Pacific region. A systematic search of government health websites and 4 electronic databases was conducted. Any official report or published study describing the national definition of preterm birth or stillbirth published between 2000 and 2020 was eligible for inclusion. A total of 58 data sources from 21 countries were identified. There was considerable variation in how preterm birth and stillbirth was defined across the region. The most frequently used lower gestational age threshold for viability of preterm birth was 28 weeks gestation (range 20-28 weeks), and stillbirth was most frequently classified from 20 weeks gestation (range 12-28 weeks). High-income countries more frequently used earlier gestational ages for preterm birth and stillbirth compared with low- to middle-income countries. The findings highlight the importance of clear, standardized, internationally comparable definitions for perinatal indicators. Further research is needed to determine the impact on regional preterm birth and stillbirth rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairead Connolly
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Phung
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elise Farrington
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle J L Scoullar
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Liz Comrie-Thomson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Joshua P Vogel
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.,University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Zeitlin J. Learning from cross-country differences in stillbirth rates-Where to now? Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2021; 35:315-317. [PMID: 33871102 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Zeitlin
- Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, UMR 1153, Inserm (French National Institute for Health and Medical Research), Paris, France
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13
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Kelly K, Meaney S, Leitao S, O'Donoghue K. A review of stillbirth definitions: A rationale for change. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 256:235-245. [PMID: 33248379 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Stillbirth definitions vary between countries around the globe. The purpose of this paper was to explore stillbirth definitions used by high income countries around the world, specifically compared to Ireland, their stillbirth and mortality rates and to examine how these rates are influenced by standards of care, especially resuscitation efforts within the delivery room for very preterm infants. A literature review was performed using PubMed, Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, and CINAHL. These databases were searched with the terms "(stillbirth OR still birth OR stillborn) AND (definition OR registration OR registry)" and "(fetal OR neonatal OR neonate) AND Viability AND Gestational Age" in two separate searches. The database searches returned 1081 results involving stillbirths and 164 results for neonatal viability. After title, abstract, full text review, and reference review 33 papers remained for use in this study. Within the European Union (EU), 59.2 % (n = 16), 14.8 % (n = 4), 11.1 % (n = 3), and 3.7 % (n = 1) countries classify stillbirths at gestational ages of ≥22 weeks, ≥24 weeks, ≥28 weeks, and ≥180 gestational days respectively. The median stillbirth rate in Europe using ≥28 weeks gestational age as a cut-off was 2.7 per 1000 births, but this increased to 3.3 per 1000 births when stillbirths from 24 to 27 weeks gestation were included. Of the thirteen countries whose mortality data was examined, survival rates for liveborn infants ranged from 0-37.3 %, 1.1-64.5 %, 31.0-77.7 %, and 59.1-85.7 % for the gestational ages of 22, 23, 24, and 25 weeks, respectively. In 1995, survival rates for the United Kingdom and Ireland were only 26 % for those born at 24 weeks gestation, however this has almost doubled in Ireland to 56.6 % in 2014-2017. Survival rates have improved to the point that, in 2014-2017, the survival rate of infants born at 23 weeks gestation (32.3 %) was 6 % higher than the rate for those born at 24 weeks gestation in 1995. Due to the improvement in survival rates, multiple international organisations recommend recording stillbirths from 22 weeks gestation and/or 500 g. Based on the findings from this review, and due to improving survival rates for periviable infants, it is recommended the stillbirth definition in Ireland should be updated to ≥22 weeks' gestation and ≥400 g to comply with improved medical developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Kelly
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Ireland.
| | - Sarah Meaney
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Ireland; National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC), University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Sara Leitao
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Ireland; National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre (NPEC), University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Keelin O'Donoghue
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Ireland; The Irish Center for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), University College Cork, Ireland
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14
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Smith LK, Blondel B, Zeitlin J. Producing valid statistics when legislation, culture and medical practices differ for births at or before the threshold of survival: report of a European workshop. BJOG 2019; 127:314-318. [PMID: 31580509 PMCID: PMC7003918 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.15971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L K Smith
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - B Blondel
- Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Centre for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - J Zeitlin
- Inserm UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Centre for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in pregnancy, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
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