George Daskalakis1, Maria Goya2, Vasilios Pergialiotis3, Luis Cabero2, Ioannis Kyvernitakis4, Aris Antsaklis1, Birgit Arabin5,6. 1. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Alexandra Maternity Hospital Athens, Athens, Greece. 2. High-Risk Pregnancy Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic, Maternal-Foetal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Vall D'Hebron, Vall D'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), UniversitatAutònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain. 3. Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S Christeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 4. Depatment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre for Ultrasound and Prenatal Medicine, Buergerhospital and Clementine Childern'S Hospital Frankfurt a.M, Dr. Senckenberg Foundation and Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Nibelungenallee 37-41, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. janniskyvernitakis@gmail.com. 5. Clara Angela Foundation Center for Research and Development, Alfred Herrhausen Str. 44, 58455, Witten, Germany. 6. Department of Obstetrics Charite, Humboldt University Berlin, Am Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is estimated that globally, approximately 13 million preterm infants are born annually and a much higher number of pregnancies are characterized by threatening preterm birth. FINDINGS: A proportional inverse correlation between gestational age at delivery and neonatal mortality has been observed which is more prevalent in countries without high standard neonatal care. The socioeconomic burden of preterm birth is enormous, as preterm neonates are particularly prone to severe morbidity that may expand up to adulthood. Several strategies have been proposed for the prevention of preterm birth which can be sub-stratified as primary (when these apply to the general population), secondary (when they target women at risk), and tertiary (optimizing neonatal outcomes when preterm birth cannot any longer be prevented). The aim of this review is to summarize the most important strategies.
BACKGROUND: It is estimated that globally, approximately 13 million preterm infants are born annually and a much higher number of pregnancies are characterized by threatening preterm birth. FINDINGS: A proportional inverse correlation between gestational age at delivery and neonatal mortality has been observed which is more prevalent in countries without high standard neonatal care. The socioeconomic burden of preterm birth is enormous, as preterm neonates are particularly prone to severe morbidity that may expand up to adulthood. Several strategies have been proposed for the prevention of preterm birth which can be sub-stratified as primary (when these apply to the general population), secondary (when they target women at risk), and tertiary (optimizing neonatal outcomes when preterm birth cannot any longer be prevented). The aim of this review is to summarize the most important strategies.
Authors: Ioannis Kyvernitakis; Holger Maul; Werner Rath; Katrina Kraft; Ruben Kuon; Amr Hamza; Edith Reuschel; Barbara Filsinger; Harald Abele; Yves Garnier; Franz Bahlmann; Ekkehard Schleußner; Richard Berger Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2019-11-11 Impact factor: 2.915