Identifying risk factors for pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: A modified eDelphi study

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPGP) is a common musculoskeletal condition that impairs function and quality of life, during and after pregnancy. Early identification may improve antenatal care.

The aim of this study was to reach consensus about the risk factors considered important by experts and pregnant women to inform the development of a screening tool for PPGP.

Risk factors were identified via literature review, followed by a modified two-round eDelphi study including 49 experts and 51 pregnant women with and without PPGP. The importance of each factor was determined on a Likert scale. Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement.

Four factors including history of low back pain, physical activity level, fatigue during pregnancy, and quality of life during pregnancy achieved consensus among all participants. Ten items reached consensus among experts only, including previous PPGP, body mass index, occupational demands, and psychosocial factors such as stress and catastrophizing thoughts. Only experts recognised psychological and lifestyle factors as important.

Although only experts recognised the relevance of psychological and lifestyle factors, both experts and women recognised physical factors as relevant risk factors for PPGP development. The diversity in responses ensures the real-world applicability of factors which are related to the experience of pain and is likely to improve sensitivity of a screening tool. Future research should focus on validating the tool, assessing predictive accuracy, and evaluating its integration within antenatal care pathways to support early intervention and optimise maternal outcomes.