Adverse pregnancy outcomes and the abnormal umbilical cord coiling index

The abnormal umbilical cord coiling index (UCI) may be one of the ways to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study attempted to determine the association between abnormal UCI and maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes.

This longitudinal study was conducted on 400 women referred for delivery from April to August 2021. UCI was calculated by dividing the total number of coils by the total length of the umbilical cord in centimeters. In eligible cases, the length of the umbilical cord and the number of vascular coils along the total umbilical cord were measured after birth. UCI less than the 10th percentile and more than the 90th percentile was considered abnormal, and between the 10th and 90th percentiles was considered normal. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The mean length of the umbilical cord was 56.12±8.38 cm, the number of umbilical cord rings was 13.70±3.51, and the UCI was 0.24±0.07. In the regression analysis, women with gestational diabetes had a significant association with abnormal UCI (P = 0.044). Thus, the probability of abnormal UCI was about 3.5 times higher in women with gestational diabetes than in normal pregnancies. Also, the history of stillbirth had a significant association with abnormal UCI (P < 0.05).

It is recommended to perform a UCI examination after delivery as part of a neonatal examination to find an explanation for maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes.