Risk factors for late (28+ weeks' gestation) stillbirth in the United States, 2014-2015

In the United States (US) late stillbirth (at 28 weeks or more of gestation) occurs in 3/1000 births.

We examined risk factors for late stillbirth with the specific goal of identifying modifiable factors that contribute substantially to stillbirth burden.

All singleton births in the US for 2014-2015.

We used a retrospective population-based design to assess the effects of multiple factors on the risk of late stillbirth in the US. Data were drawn from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention live birth and fetal death data files.

There were 6,732,157 live and 18,334 stillbirths available for analysis (late stillbirth rate = 2.72/1000 births). The importance of sociodemographic determinants was shown by higher risks for Black and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander mothers compared with White mothers, mothers with low educational attainment, and older mothers. Among modifiable risk factors, delayed/absent prenatal care, diabetes, hypertension, and maternal smoking were associated with increased risk, though they accounted for only 3-6% of stillbirths each. Two factors accounted for the largest proportion of late stillbirths: high maternal body mass index (BMI; 15%) and infants who were small for gestational age (38%). Participation in the supplemental nutrition for women, infants and children program was associated with a 28% reduction in overall stillbirth burden.

This study provides population-based evidence for stillbirth risk in the US. A high proportion of late stillbirths was associated with high maternal BMI and small for gestational age, whereas participation in supplemental nutrition programs was associated with a large reduction in stillbirth burden. Addressing obesity and fetal growth restriction, as well as broadening participation in nutritional supplementation programs could reduce late stillbirths.