Induction of labour at 41 weeks of gestation versus expectant management and induction of labour at 42 weeks of gestation: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Association between the physical activity level in the third trimester of pregnancy and the gestational age at birth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the physical activity level in the third trimester and the time of labor onset.

METHODS

Two hundred and sixty women with low-risk pregnancies, who gave birth at 37 weeks of gestation or beyond, and completed the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. According to the gestational age at delivery, the study population was divided into case (≥41 weeks) and control (37-406/7 weeks) groups. The clinical characteristics and the physical activity levels of the two groups were compared. The physical activity levels of the participants were also compared according to the delivery route.

RESULTS

The nulliparity rate (54.3 vs. 21.7%), the median gestational weight gain (10.5 [2-30] vs. 10 [2-25] kg), and the cesarean delivery rate (27.7 vs. 6.6%) were higher in the case group than the control group (p<0.05). While the median level of sedentary activity was higher, the median moderate-intensity activity level and the median household/caregiving activity level were lower in the case group than the control group (p<0.05). The level of sedentary activity was also higher in women who gave birth by a cesarean section than vaginally (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Physical activity in the third trimester was associated with the time of labor onset. Decreased moderate-intensity and household/caregiving activity levels and an increased level of sedentary activity in the last trimester of pregnancy were found in women who gave birth at ≥41 weeks of gestation. A decreased level of sedentary activity was observed in women who gave birth vaginally.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes after implementation of a more active management in late- and postterm pregnancies in Sweden: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The risk of perinatal death and severe neonatal morbidity increases gradually after 41 weeks of pregnancy. We evaluated maternal and perinatal outcomes after a national shift from expectancy and induction at 42+0 weeks to a more active management of late-term pregnancies in Sweden offering induction from 41+0 weeks or an individual plan aiming at birth or active labour no later than 42+0 weeks.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Women with a singleton pregnancy lasting 41+0 weeks or more with a fetus in cephalic presentation (N = 150,370) were included in a nationwide, register-based cohort study. Elective cesarean sections were excluded. Outcomes during period 1, January 2017 to December 2019 (before the shift) versus outcomes during period 2, January 2020 to October 1, 2023 (after the shift) were analysed. For comparison, outcomes of pregnancies lasting 39+0 to 40+6 weeks (N = 358,548) were also studied. Primary outcomes were: First, peri/neonatal death (stillbirth or neonatal death before 28 days); second, composite adverse peri/neonatal outcome (peri/neonatal death, Apgar score <4 at 5 min, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grades 1-3, meconium aspiration syndrome, birth trauma, or admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) ≥4 days); third, composite adverse peri/neonatal outcome excluding admission to NICU; and fourth, emergency cesarean section. Secondary outcomes included the components of the primary composite outcomes. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for binary outcomes period 2 versus period 1 were computed using modified Poisson regression analyses with adjustments for maternal age, parity, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and educational level. Induction rates among pregnancies lasting 41+0 weeks or more increased from 33.7% in period 1 to 52.4% in period 2. Mean (standard deviation) gestational age at birth decreased from 290.7 (2.9) days to 289.6 (2.3) days. Infants born during period 2 were at lower risk of peri/neonatal death compared to infants born during period 1; 0.9/1,000 versus 1.7/1,000 born infants (adjusted RR 0.52; 95% CI [0.38, 0.69]; p < 0.001), and they had a lower risk of having the composite adverse neonatal outcome, both including (50.5/1,000 versus 53.9/1,000, adjusted RR 0.92; 95% CI [0.88, 0.96]; p < 0.001) or excluding NICU admission (18.5/1,000 versus 22.5/1,000, adjusted RR 0.79; 95% CI [0.74, 0.85]; p < 0.001). The cesarean section rate increased from 10.5% in period 1 to 11.9% in period 2 (adjusted RR 1.07; 95% CI [1.04, 1.10]; p < 0.001). For births at 39 to 40 weeks the adjusted RR for peri/neonatal death was 0.86 (95% CI [0.72, 1.02]). One limitation of the study is that we had no data on to what extent monitoring of fetal health was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

A more active management of pregnancies lasting 41+0 weeks or more was associated with a decrease in peri/neonatal deaths, and a decrease in composite adverse peri/neonatal outcomes. Increased rate of emergency cesarean sections was observed. Women with pregnancies advancing towards 41 gestational weeks should be given balanced information on the benefits and risks of induction of labour at 41 weeks compared to expectant management until 42 weeks and be offered induction of labour at 41 weeks or active surveillance of pregnancies from 41 weeks in order to decrease peri/neonatal mortality.

A Systematic Review of Methods and Practice for Integrating Maternal, Fetal, and Child Health Outcomes, and Family Spillover Effects into Cost-Utility Analyses

BACKGROUND

Maternal-perinatal interventions delivered during pregnancy or childbirth have unique characteristics that impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the mother, fetus, and newborn child. However, maternal-perinatal cost-utility analyses (CUAs) often only consider either maternal or child health outcomes. Challenges include, but are not limited to, measuring fetal, newborn, and infant health outcomes, and assessing their impact on maternal HRQoL. It is also important to recognize the impact of maternal-perinatal health on family members' HRQoL (i.e., family spillover effects) and to incorporate these effects in maternal-perinatal CUAs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to systematically review the methods used to include health outcomes of pregnant women, fetuses, and children and to incorporate family spillover effects in maternal-perinatal CUAs.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase, EconLit, Cochrane Collection, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA), and the Pediatric Economic Database Evaluation (PEDE) databases from inception to 2020 to identify maternal-perinatal CUAs that included health outcomes for pregnant women, fetuses, and/or children. The search was updated to December 2022 using PEDE. Data describing how the health outcomes of mothers, fetuses, and children were measured, incorporated, and reported along with the data on family spillover effects were extracted.

RESULTS

Out of 174 maternal-perinatal CUAs identified, 62 considered the health outcomes of pregnant women, and children. Among the 54 quality-adjusted life year (QALY)-based CUAs, 12 included fetal health outcomes, the impact of fetal loss on mothers' HRQoL, and the impact of neonatal demise on mothers' HRQoL. Four studies considered fetal health outcomes and the effects of fetal loss on mothers' HRQoL. One study included fetal health outcomes and the impact of neonatal demise on maternal HRQoL. Furthermore, six studies considered the impact of neonatal demise on maternal HRQoL, while four included fetal health outcomes. One study included the impact of fetal loss on maternal HRQoL. The remaining 26 only included the health outcomes of pregnant women and children. Among the eight disability-adjusted life year (DALY)-based CUAs, two measured fetal health outcomes. Out of 174 studies, only one study included family spillover effects. The most common measurement approach was to measure the health outcomes of pregnant women and children separately. Various approaches were used to assess fetal losses in terms of QALYs or DALYs and their impact on HRQoL of mothers. The most common integration approach was to sum the QALYs or DALYs for pregnant women and children. Most studies reported combined QALYs and incremental QALYs, or DALYs and incremental DALYs, at the family level for pregnant women and children.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one-third of maternal-perinatal CUAs included the health outcomes of pregnant women, fetuses, and/or children. Future CUAs of maternal-perinatal interventions, conducted from a societal perspective, should aim to incorporate health outcomes for mothers, fetuses, and children when appropriate. The various approaches used within these CUAs highlight the need for standardized measurement and integration methods, potentially leading to rigorous and standardized inclusion practices, providing higher-quality evidence to better inform decision-makers about the costs and benefits of maternal-perinatal interventions. Health Technology Assessment agencies may consider providing guidance for interventions affecting future lives in future updates.

Labor induction at 41+0 gestational weeks or expectant management for the nulliparous woman: The Finnish randomized controlled multicenter trial

INTRODUCTION

Neonatal and maternal risks increase in term pregnancy as gestational age advances and become increasingly evident post-term. Management practices of late- and post-term pregnancies vary, and the optimal time point for intervention by labor induction is yet to be determined.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This randomized controlled trial of 381 nulliparous women with unripe cervices compared labor induction at 41+0 gestational weeks (early induction) with expectant management and labor induction at 41+5 to 42+1 gestational weeks (expectant management). This multicenter study included all five university hospitals and the largest central hospital in Finland. The study period was 2018-2022. Participants were randomized to either early induction (48.8%, n = 186) or expectant management (51.2%, n = 195) with equal randomization ratios of 1:1. This was a superiority trial, and the primary outcomes were rates of cesarean section (CS) and composite of adverse neonatal outcomes. The trial was registered at the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN83219789, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN83219789).

RESULTS

The rates of CS (16.7% [n = 31] vs. 24.1% [n = 47], RR 0.7 [95% CI: 0.5-1.0], p = 0.07) and a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes (9.7% [n = 18] vs. 14.4% [n = 28], RR 0.7 [95% CI: 0.4-1.2] p = 0.16) did not significantly differ between the groups, but the operative delivery rate was lower in the early induction group than in the expectant management group (30.6% [n = 57] vs. 45.6% [n = 89], p = 0.003). The rates of hemorrhage ≥1000 mL and neonatal weight ≥4000 g were also lower in the early induction group, as was the vacuum extraction rate in women with vaginal delivery. Of the women with expectant management, 45.6% (n = 89) had spontaneous onset of labor. No perinatal deaths occurred, but one case of eclampsia appeared in the expectant management group.

CONCLUSIONS

Offering labor induction to nulliparous women at 41+0 gestational weeks may decrease the probability of operative delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal weight ≥4000 g. However, this study was underpowered to affirm the trends of rising rates of CS and adverse neonatal outcomes in the expectant management group. Thus, expectant management could remain an option for some, as one in two women with expectant management had a spontaneous onset of labor.

Management of fetuses with apparent normal growth and abnormal cerebroplacental ratio: A risk-based approach near term

INTRODUCTION

Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) has been shown to be an independent predictor of adverse perinatal outcome at term and a marker of failure to reach the growth potential (FRGP) regardless of fetal size, being abnormal in compromised fetuses with birthweight above the 10th centile. The main aim of this study was to propose a risk-based approach for the management of pregnancies with normal estimated fetal weight (EFW) and abnormal CPR near term.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 943 pregnancies, that underwent an ultrasound evaluation of EFW and CPR at or beyond 34 weeks. CPR values were converted into multiples of the median (MoM) and EFW into centiles according to local references. Pregnancies were then divided into four groups: normal fetuses (defined as EFW ≥10th centile and CPR ≥0.6765 MoM), small for gestational age (EFW <10th centile and CPR ≥0.6765 MoM), fetal growth restriction (EFW <10th centile and CPR <0.6765 MoM), and fetuses with apparent normal growth (EFW ≥10th centile) and abnormal CPR (<0.6765 MoM), that present FRGP. Intrapartum fetal compromise (IFC) was defined as an abnormal intrapartum cardiotocogram or pH requiring cesarean delivery. Risk comparisons were performed among the four groups, based on the different frequencies of IFC. The risks of IFC were subsequently extrapolated into a gestational age scale, defining the optimal gestation to plan the birth for each of the four groups.

RESULTS

Fetal growth restriction was the group with the highest frequency of IFC followed by FRGP, small for gestational age, and normal groups. The "a priori" risks of the fetal growth restriction and normal groups were used to determine the limits of two scales. One defining the IFC risk and the other defining the appropriate gestational age for delivery. Extrapolation of the risk between both scales placed the optimal gestational age for delivery at 39 weeks of gestation in the case of FRGP and at 40 weeks in the case of small for gestational age.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetuses near term may be evaluated according to the CPR and EFW defining four groups that present a progressive risk of IFC. Fetuses in pregnancies complicated by FRGP are likely to benefit from being delivered at 39 weeks of gestation.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of induction of labour at 41 weeks and expectant management until 42 weeks in low risk women (INDEX trial)

Objective

To assess the cost-effectiveness of elective induction of labour (IOL) at 41 weeks and expectant management (EM) until 42 weeks.

Design

Cost-effectiveness analysis from a healthcare perspective alongside a randomised controlled trial (INDEX).

Setting

123 primary care midwifery practices and 45 obstetric departments of hospitals in the Netherlands.

Population

We studied 1801 low-risk women with late-term pregnancy, randomised to IOL at 41 weeks (N = 900) or EM until 42 weeks (N = 901).

Methods

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was expressed as the ratio of the difference in costs and the difference in main perinatal outcomes. A Cost-Effectiveness Acceptability Curve (CEAC) was constructed to assess whether induction is cost-effective for a range of monetary values as thresholds. We performed subgroup analysis for parity.

Main outcome measures

Direct medical costs, composite adverse perinatal outcome (CAPO) (perinatal mortality, NICU admission, Apgar 5 min < 7, plexus brachialis injury and/or meconium aspiration syndrome) and composite severe adverse perinatal outcome (SAPO) (including Apgar 5 min < 4 instead of < 7).

Results

The average costs were €3858 in the induction group and €3723 in the expectant group (mean difference €135; 95 % CI -235 to 493). The ICERs of IOL compared to EM to prevent one additional CAPO and SAPO was €9436 and €14,994, respectively. The CEAC showed a 80 % chance of IOL being cost-effective with a willingness-to-pay of €22,000 for prevention of one CAPO and €50,000 for one SAPO. Subgroup analysis showed a willingness-to-pay to prevent one CAPO for nulliparous of €47,000 and for multiparous €190,000. To prevent one SAPO the willingness-to-pay is €62,000 for nulliparous and €970,000 for multiparous women.

Conclusions

Induction at 41 weeks has an 80 % chance of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of €22,000 for prevention of one CAPO and €50,000 for prevention of one SAPO. Subgroup analysis suggests that induction could be cost-effective for nulliparous women while it is unlikely cost-effective for multiparous women.Cost-effectiveness in other settings will depend on baseline characteristics of the population and health system organisation and funding.

The panorama of cerebral palsy in Sweden part XIII shows declining prevalence in birth-years 2011-2014

AIM

To describe epidemiology and characteristics of cerebral palsy (CP) in western Sweden 1954-2014.

METHODS

Population-based study covering 105 935 live births in the area in 2011-2014. Birth characteristics, neuroimaging findings and outcome were analysed and prevalence calculated. Non-parametric methods were used for group comparisons.

RESULTS

CP was diagnosed in 192 children. Crude prevalence had decreased to 1.81 per 1000 live births (p = 0.0067). Gestational age-specific prevalence for <28 gestational weeks was 74.8 per 1000 live births, 46.6 for 28-31 weeks, 5.8 for 32-36 weeks and 1.1 per 1000 for >36 weeks of gestation. Hemiplegia, found in 36.2%, had declined (p = 0.03). Diplegia was found in 36.2% and tetraplegia 5.3%. Dyskinetic CP accounted for 18.6% and ataxia for 3.7%. Neuroimaging revealed maldevelopments in 14%, white matter lesions in 44%, cortical/subcortical lesions in 13% and basal ganglia lesions in 17%. Prenatal aetiology was considered in 34%, peri- or neonatal in 48%, while in 18% aetiological period remained unclassified. Motor outcome in children who needed neonatal care had improved (p = 0.04). Motor function in dyskinetic CP had improved compared to previous cohorts (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of CP has declined, mainly in term-born and in hemiplegia, and motor severity has changed compared to previous cohorts.

Is the increasing prevalence of labor induction accompanied by changes in pregnancy outcomes? An observational study of all singleton births at gestational weeks 37-42 in Norway during 1999-2019

INTRODUCTION

Induction of labor is often performed to prevent adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes, and has become increasingly common. We studied whether changes in prevalence of labor induction in gestational weeks 37-42 weeks were accompanied by changes in adverse pregnancy outcomes or mode of delivery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, and included all singleton births in gestational weeks 37-42 in Norway, 1999-2019 (n = 1 127 945). We calculated the prevalence of labor induction and outcome measures according to year of birth. We repeated these calculations for each gestational week at birth.

RESULTS

The prevalence of labor induction increased from 9.7% to 25.9%, and the increase was particularly high in gestational week 41. A modest decline in fetal deaths was observed in all gestational weeks, except gestational week 41. The overall decline was from 0.18% in 1999-2004 to 0.13% during 2015-2019. There were no overall changes in other perinatal outcomes. The prevalence of postpartum hemorrhage ≥500 ml increased from 11.4% in 1999 to 30.1% in 2019, and operative deliveries increased slightly. The prevalence of acute cesarean section increased from 6.5% to 9.3%, whereas vacuum and/or forceps assisted deliveries increased from 7.8% to 10.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

A high increase in labor inductions was accompanied by a modest decline in fetal deaths, but no decline in other adverse perinatal outcomes. In settings where the prevalence of adverse perinatal outcomes is low, the beneficial effect of increased use of labor induction may not outweigh the side effects or the costs.

Optimal timing of labour induction in contemporary clinical practice

Induction of labour (IoL) is generally conducted when maternal and foetal risks of remaining pregnant outweigh the risks of delivery. With emerging literature around non-medically indicated IoL, contemporary clinical practice has seen an increase in IoL at 39 weeks' gestation. This review highlights recent evidence on the most common indications for IoL including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and post-term pregnancies. It also summarizes the evidence related to the timing of IoL for other common conditions based on recent literature reviews.