Preterm birth: the impact of risk factors on pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the achievements of modern obstetrics and neonatology, the problem of preterm birth remains one of the most pressing. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of risk factors on the outcome of threatened preterm birth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included the analysis of clinical and anamnestic data of 130 patients delivered at various gestational ages. The main group comprised 68 women with preterm delivery, with the control group consisting of 62 women with timely delivery. RESULTS: The outcome of preterm birth is adversely affected by overweight in the group of modifiable risk factors, by history of premature birth in the immediate family in the group of non-modifiable risk factors, and by a previous COVID-19, anemia and autonomic nervous system disorders in the group of potentially modifiable risk factors. The most reliable prognostic marker for the development of preterm labor was the shortening of the cervical length of less than 2.5 cm according to ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: The formation of risk groups based on the analysis of clinical, anamnestic, medical, and social data, as well as somatic and gynecological diseases can help avoid the development of adverse outcomes of preterm birth.