Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Cause-specific mortality of very preterm infants and antenatal events

Carlo Corchia1, Pierpaolo Ferrante, Monica Da Frè

  • 1International Center on Birth Defects and Prematurity, Rome, Italy.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy complications significantly impact specific causes of death in very preterm infants. Understanding these links is crucial for improving neonatal outcomes and targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Very preterm infants (22-31 weeks' gestational age) face significant mortality risks.
  • Antenatal factors are suspected to influence specific causes of death in this vulnerable population.
  • Understanding these associations is vital for developing targeted preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between antenatal factors and cause-specific mortality in a large cohort of very preterm infants.
  • To identify specific pregnancy complications associated with distinct causes of death.
  • To inform clinical practice and public health initiatives aimed at reducing neonatal mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the ACTION study, including 2974 very preterm infants (22-31 weeks' gestational age) across 6 Italian regions.
  • Exclusion of infants with lethal or acutely life-threatening malformations.
  • Application of region-stratified multiple Cox regression to assess associations between antenatal factors and cause-specific mortality, adjusted for competing risks.

Main Results:

  • Respiratory problems and intraventricular hemorrhage were leading causes of death in the first two weeks.
  • Antepartum hemorrhage linked to respiratory deaths (HR 1.6).
  • Maternal infection associated with asphyxia (HR 32.5) and respiratory deaths (HR 2.8).
  • Preterm premature rupture of membranes increased risk of infection-related deaths (HR 1.8).
  • Preterm labor linked to respiratory (HR 1.5) and gastrointestinal deaths (HR 5.8).
  • Low birth weight z-score (< -1) associated with increased risk of death from asphyxia, infections, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues.

Conclusions:

  • Pregnancy complications exhibit distinct associations with specific causes of mortality in very preterm infants.
  • Identifying these links can guide targeted interventions to reduce specific risks.
  • Further research into the mechanisms underlying these associations is warranted.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Introduction To Survival Analysis01:18

Introduction To Survival Analysis

Survival analysis is a statistical method used to study time-to-event data, where the "event" might represent outcomes like death, disease relapse, system failure, or recovery. A unique feature of survival data is censoring, which occurs when the event of interest has not been observed for some individuals during the study period. This requires specialized techniques to handle incomplete data effectively.
The primary goal of survival analysis is to estimate survival time—the time until a...
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...