Maternal risk factors for preterm birth in Taiwan, a nationwide population-based cohort study

Sheng-Ting Wu; Ching-Heng Lin; Yi-Hsuan Lin; Ya-Chi Hsu; Chung-Ting Hsu; Ming-Chih Lin

doi:10.1016/j.pedneo.2023.03.014

Maternal risk factors for preterm birth in Taiwan, a nationwide population-based cohort study

Pediatr Neonatol. 2024 Jan;65(1):38-47. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2023.03.014. Epub 2023 Jul 18.

Authors

Sheng-Ting Wu¹, Ching-Heng Lin², Yi-Hsuan Lin³, Ya-Chi Hsu¹, Chung-Ting Hsu³, Ming-Chih Lin⁴

Affiliations

¹ Children's Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Children's Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Children's Medical Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: mingclin@gmail.com.

PMID: 37517971
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2023.03.014

Abstract

Background: The rate of preterm birth is increasing globally. It causes significant short-term and long-term health care burdens. A comprehensive recognition of the risk factors related to preterm births is important in the prevention of preterm birth. Our study is to investigate the incidence and maternal risk factors of preterm birth from a nationwide population-based perspective.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. All live births from 2004 to 2014 in Taiwan enrolled. The main data source was Taiwan's Birth Certificate Application (BCA) database. The BCA database was linked with the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to establish any links between information on newborns and maternal underlying disease.

Results: A total of 1,385,979 births were included in the analysis. The incidence of preterm birth increased gradually in Taiwan from 8.85% in 2004 to 10.73% in 2014. Maternal age, socioeconomic status, maternal allergy and autoimmune diseases, gynecological diseases, and pregnancy-related complications were significant risk factors for preterm birth.

Conclusion: The overall incidence of preterm births has gradually increased in Taiwan. Maternal age, socioeconomic status, certain underlying diseases, and pregnancy-related complications were risk factors for preterm birth.

Keywords: high-risk; maternal health; perinatology; pregnancy; pregnancy complications; premature birth.

MeSH terms

Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications* / epidemiology
Premature Birth* / epidemiology
Premature Birth* / etiology
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Taiwan / epidemiology