The risk of fetal death in nonanomalous pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios

Rachel A. Pilliod, Jessica M. Page, Richard Burwick, Anjali J. Kaimal, Yvonne W. Cheng, Aaron B. Caughey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate the ongoing risk of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) in nonanomalous pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios. Study Design We analyzed a retrospective cohort of all singleton, nonanomalous births in California between 2005 and 2008 as recorded in a statewide birth certificate registry. We included all births between 24+0 and 41+6 weeks' gestational age, excluding multiple gestations, major congenital anomalies, and pregnancies affected by oligohydramnios. Polyhydramnios was identified by International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, codes. χ2tests were used to compare the dichotomous outcomes, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were then performed to control for potential confounders. We analyzed the data for pregnancies affected and unaffected by polyhydramnios. The IUFD risk was expressed as a rate per 10,000. Results The risk of IUFD in pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios was greater at every gestational age compared with unaffected pregnancies. The IUFD risk in pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios was more than 7 times higher than unaffected pregnancies at 37 weeks at a rate of 18.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0-32.6) vs 2.4 (95% CI, 2.0-2.5) and was 11-fold higher by 40 weeks' gestational age at a rate of 66.3 (95% CI, 10.8-68.6) vs 6.0 (95% CI, 5.1-6.3) in unaffected pregnancies. When adjusted for multiple confounding variables, the presence of polyhydramnios remained associated with an increased odds of IUFD in nonanomalous singleton pregnancies, with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.5 (95% CI, 4.1-7.6). Conclusion Ongoing risk of IUFD is greater in low-risk pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios at all gestational ages compared with unaffected pregnancies with the greatest increase in risk at term. Although further study is needed to explore the underlying etiology of polyhydramnios in these cases, the identification of polyhydramnios alone may warrant increased antenatal surveillance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)410.e1-410.e6
JournalAmerican journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Volume213
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2015

Keywords

  • antenatal testing
  • intrauterine fetal demise
  • polyhydramnios
  • stillbirth

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The risk of fetal death in nonanomalous pregnancies affected by polyhydramnios'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this