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. 2012 Oct;207(4):292.e1-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.07.022. Epub 2012 Jul 20.

Neonatal respiratory morbidity in the early term delivery

Kobina Ghartey  1 , Jaclyn Coletta, Liza Lizarraga, Elizabeth Murphy, Cande V Ananth, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
Affiliations

Neonatal respiratory morbidity in the early term delivery

Kobina Ghartey et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of respiratory morbidity in neonates delivered at "early term" (37-38 weeks) compared with those delivered at 39 weeks.

Study design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton deliveries from 37(0/7) to 39(6/7) weeks' gestation. Our primary outcome was composite respiratory morbidity.

Results: Of 2273 deliveries at 37-39 weeks, 51% (n = 1169) delivered in the early term period. Infants delivered at 37-38 weeks had a 2-fold increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome, oxygen use, continuous positive airway pressure use, and composite respiratory morbidity (risk ratio [RR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-7.9; oxygen usage RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.9; continuous positive airway pressure RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2; composite respiratory morbidity RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.8).

Conclusion: The 2-fold increased risk of composite respiratory morbidity of infants in the early term period supports the urgency for limiting nonindicated deliveries to ≥ 39 weeks' gestation.

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