Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.

Several studies and a recent meta-analysis have suggested that previous Cesarean section may increase the risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy. Given the high rates of Cesarean section in contemporary obstetric practice, this is of considerable public health importance. We sought to evaluate...

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Main Authors: Stephen Wood, Sue Ross, Reg Sauve
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4557984?pdf=render
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author Stephen Wood
Sue Ross
Reg Sauve
author_facet Stephen Wood
Sue Ross
Reg Sauve
author_sort Stephen Wood
collection DOAJ
description Several studies and a recent meta-analysis have suggested that previous Cesarean section may increase the risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy. Given the high rates of Cesarean section in contemporary obstetric practice, this is of considerable public health importance. We sought to evaluate the potential that this association is the result of residual confounding bias.A large perinatal database (Alberta Perinatal Health Project) was searched to identify a matched set of first and second births from the years 1992-2006. Data on pregnancy outcomes, demographics and potential confounding factors were obtained.The cohort was comprised of 98538 matched first and second births. Multivariate analysis did not reveal an association between previous Cesarean section and stillbirth, OR = 1.38 (0.98, 1.93). Restricting the analysis to a low risk group further attenuated the association, OR = .99 (0.62, 1.52). Analysis of the risk by indication for Cesarean section found that the risk was not increased for previous dystocia, OR = .91 (0.53, 1.55) nor for breech presentation, OR = 1.06 (0.50, 2.28) but only for other indications including non reassuring fetal status and fetal distress, OR = 1.96 (1.29, 2.98).The results of our cohort analysis suggest that previous Cesarean section does not cause an increased risk of stillbirth.
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spelling doaj.art-d4fa4b587a2b40fabe1bc239918a59ee2022-12-21T20:32:53ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01109e013627210.1371/journal.pone.0136272Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.Stephen WoodSue RossReg SauveSeveral studies and a recent meta-analysis have suggested that previous Cesarean section may increase the risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy. Given the high rates of Cesarean section in contemporary obstetric practice, this is of considerable public health importance. We sought to evaluate the potential that this association is the result of residual confounding bias.A large perinatal database (Alberta Perinatal Health Project) was searched to identify a matched set of first and second births from the years 1992-2006. Data on pregnancy outcomes, demographics and potential confounding factors were obtained.The cohort was comprised of 98538 matched first and second births. Multivariate analysis did not reveal an association between previous Cesarean section and stillbirth, OR = 1.38 (0.98, 1.93). Restricting the analysis to a low risk group further attenuated the association, OR = .99 (0.62, 1.52). Analysis of the risk by indication for Cesarean section found that the risk was not increased for previous dystocia, OR = .91 (0.53, 1.55) nor for breech presentation, OR = 1.06 (0.50, 2.28) but only for other indications including non reassuring fetal status and fetal distress, OR = 1.96 (1.29, 2.98).The results of our cohort analysis suggest that previous Cesarean section does not cause an increased risk of stillbirth.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4557984?pdf=render
spellingShingle Stephen Wood
Sue Ross
Reg Sauve
Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
PLoS ONE
title Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
title_full Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
title_fullStr Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
title_full_unstemmed Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
title_short Cesarean Section and Subsequent Stillbirth, Is Confounding by Indication Responsible for the Apparent Association? An Updated Cohort Analysis of a Large Perinatal Database.
title_sort cesarean section and subsequent stillbirth is confounding by indication responsible for the apparent association an updated cohort analysis of a large perinatal database
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4557984?pdf=render
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