Risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth among healthy nulliparous pregnant women in the Netherlands, a prospective...

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathophysiology of sPTB is poorly understood, in particular among nulliparous women without apparent medical or obstetric risk factors. Therefore, we aimed to identify risk factors for sPTB in healthy nulliparous women.

We performed a prospective cohort study. Recruitment took place from February 2014 to December 2016 in 16 community midwifery centers in the Netherlands. Eligibility criteria were: ≥18 years, no previous pregnancy >16 weeks of gestation, healthy singleton pregnancy, and antenatal booking <24 weeks of gestation. At study inclusion, participants completed a questionnaire, including details on lifestyle, work, and medical history. Cervical length was measured by vaginal ultrasound at the second-trimester anomaly scan. Detailed information concerning pregnancy and birth was collected via antenatal charts. We calculated the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for various risk factors with correction for socioeconomic status (SES) using logistic regression and Firth's correction.

We included 363 women of whom pregnancy outcomes were available in 349 (96.1%) participants. The cervical length measurement was available for 225 (62.0%) participants. sPTB occurred in 26 women (7.5%). SES was associated with sPTB (OR: 3.7, 95%  CI: 1.6-8.5) in univariate analysis. First or second trimester vaginal bleeding (aOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.4-9.0) and urinary tract infection during pregnancy (aOR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.7-13.9) were associated with sPTB in multivariate analysis.

This prospective cohort confirms established risk factors for sPTB in nulliparous women deemed at low risk of sPTB.