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. 2011 Jun;26(6):493-502.
doi: 10.1007/s10654-011-9586-1. Epub 2011 May 3.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection during pregnancy associated with preterm delivery: a population-based prospective cohort study

G Ingrid J G Rours  1 , Liesbeth Duijts, Henriette A Moll, Lidia R Arends, Ronald de Groot, Vincent W Jaddoe, Albert Hofman, Eric A P Steegers, Johan P Mackenbach, Alewijn Ott, Hendrina F M Willemse, Elizabeth A E van der Zwaan, Roel P Verkooijen, Henri A Verbrugh
Affiliations

Chlamydia trachomatis infection during pregnancy associated with preterm delivery: a population-based prospective cohort study

G Ingrid J G Rours et al. Eur J Epidemiol. 2011 Jun.

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection and may influence pregnancy outcome. This study was conducted to assess the effect of chlamydial infection during pregnancy on premature delivery and birthweight. Pregnant women attending a participating midwifery practice or antenatal clinic between February 2003 and January 2005 were eligible for the study. From 4,055 women self-administered questionnaires and urine samples, tested by PCR, were analysed for C. trachomatis infection. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from midwives and hospital registries. Gestational ages and birthweights were analysed for 3,913 newborns. The C. trachomatis prevalence was 3.9%, but varied by age and socio-economic background. Chlamydial infection was, after adjustment for potential confounders, associated with preterm delivery before 32 weeks (OR 4.35 [95% CI 1.3, 15.2]) and 35 weeks gestation (OR 2.66 [95% CI 1.1, 6.5]), but not with low birthweight. Of all deliveries before 32 weeks and 35 weeks gestation 14.9% [95% CI 4.5, 39.5] and 7.4% [95% CI 2.5, 20.1] was attributable to C. trachomatis infection. Chlamydia trachomatis infection contributes significantly to early premature delivery and should be considered a public health problem, especially in young women and others at increased risk of C. trachomatis infection.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Profile of the generation R sub-study on Chlamydia trachomatis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Kaplan-Meier analysis of duration of gestation at delivery in women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis infection
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Birthweight standard deviation scores (SDS) versus gestational ages of neonates born to women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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