Economic costs and health utility values associated with extremely preterm birth: Evidence from the EPICure2 cohort study

Psychometric Performance of Generic Childhood Multi-Attribute Utility Instruments in Preterm and Low Birthweight Populations: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Individuals born preterm (gestational age < 37 weeks) and/or at low birthweight (<2500 g) are at increased risk of health impairments from birth to adulthood. This review aimed to evaluate the psychometric performance of generic childhood-specific or childhood-compatible multi-attribute utility instruments (MAUIs) in preterm and/or low birthweight (PLB) populations.

METHODS

Searches covered seven databases, including studies that targeted childhood (aged < 18 years) and/or adult (≥18 years) PLB populations; provided psychometric evidence for generic childhood-specific or compatible MAUI(s) (any language version); and published in English. Eighteen psychometric properties were evaluated using a four-part criteria rating system. Data syntheses identified psychometric evidence gaps and summarised the psychometric assessment methods/results.

RESULTS

A total of 42 studies were included, generating 178 criteria rating outputs across four MAUIs: 17D, CHSCS-PS, HUI2, and HUI3. Moreover, 64.0% of outputs concerned the HUI3 MAUI, and 38.2% related to known-group validity. There was no evidence for five psychometric properties. Only 6.7% of outputs concerned reliability and proxy-child agreement. No MAUI outperformed others across all properties. The frequently applied HUI2 and HUI3 lacked content validity evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

This psychometric evidence catalogue should inform the selection of MAUI(s) suited to the specific aims of applications targeting PLB populations. Further psychometric research is warranted to address the gaps in psychometric evidence.

Impact of Antenatal Care on Perinatal Outcomes in New South Wales, Australia: A Decade-Long Regional Perspective

Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth are adverse perinatal outcomes that pose a significant risk to a child's healthy beginning. While antenatal care (ANC) is an established intervention for pregnancy care, little is understood about how the number and timing of ANC visits can impact these adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the impact of the number and timing of ANC visits on LBW and preterm birth in a regional setting. A decade-long perinatal dataset related to singleton live births that took place in the Southern New South Wales Local Health District (SNSWLHD) was utilized. The outcomes of interest were LBW and preterm birth, and the exposure variables were based on the Australian pregnancy guidelines on the number and timing of ANC visits. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to measure the association between outcome and exposure while adjusting for potential confounders. A greater level of protection against LBW and preterm birth was observed among mothers who had an adequate number of visits, with early entry (first trimester) into ANC. The protective effect of an adequate number of ANC visits against LBW and preterm birth among mothers with late entry into ANC (third trimester) was found to be statistically non-significant.