Neonatal outcomes in moderate and latepreterm babies: Do they differ by maternal region of birth?.

Abstract

Background: South Asian (SA) born women are at increased risk of stillbirth and complications at term. Differences in placental aging may explain this. Babies born to SA born women may be more developmentally mature at earlier gestations. This study compared outcomes of moderate and late preterm neonates born to Australian/New Zealand (AUS/NZ) born and SA-born women. Method(s): Retrospective cohort study of singleton neonates born at 32-26 weeks, between 2012-15 at Monash Health. Admission to the nursery, ventilation support, nursery length of stay and other neonatal outcomes were compared between babies born to mothers who themselves were born in AUS/NZ and those from SA. Result(s): 1505 babies were born to Aus/NZ-born women and 475 to SA-born women. Compared to babies born to AUS/NZ women, those born to SA-born women were more likely to be older (median 36 weeks (IQR 35-36) vs median 35 (IQR 34-36) weeks gestation, p<0.001) but weighed the same (2333g (SD 544) vs 2336g (SD 495) p=0.91) . Of the babies admitted to NICU, after adjustment for confounders, including gestational age, babies born to SA born mothers were 50% less likely to need ventilation support (95% CI 0.33 to 0.77; p=0.001). There was no difference in length of stay ( 2.21 (95% CI -1.22 to 6.65; p=0.21). Conclusion(s): This study provides further support for the hypothesis that that South Asian born women have "shorter" gestations and earlier fetal maturation.