Atar Ben-Shmuel1, Eyal Sheiner1, Erez Tsumi2, Tamar Wainstock3, Dvora Feinblum4, Asnat Walfisch1,5. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 3. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 4. Medical School for International Health, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. 5. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Mt. Scopus, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether early-term delivery impacts on the long-term ophthalmic health of offspring. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted, including all singleton deliveries (1991-2014) occurring at a tertiary medical center. Gestational age was divided into: early prematurity, late prematurity, and early, full, late, and post term. Hospitalizations of offspring up to 18 years of age involving ophthalmic morbidity were evaluated. Survival curves compared cumulative hospitalizations and regression models controlled for confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 243 363 deliveries met the inclusion criteria. Ophthalmic-related hospitalization rates were lower among early-term born children (1.0%) as compared with early- (2.2%) and late-preterm (1.3%) born children, but higher than those in full- (0.9%), late- (0.8%), and post-term (0.8%) born offspring (P < 0.001). The survival curve demonstrated significantly different hospitalization rates in the different gestational ages (P < 0.001). The regression demonstrated an independent risk for ophthalmic morbidity among early-term born offspring (adjusted hazard ratio 1.14, confidence interval 1.03-1.27, P = 0.009), whereas late- and post-term deliveries were associated with a lower risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.83 and 0.74, respectively) as compared with full-term deliveries. CONCLUSION: The risk for long-term ophthalmic-related hospitalizations of offspring gradually declines as gestational age advances.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether early-term delivery impacts on the long-term ophthalmic health of offspring. METHODS: A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted, including all singleton deliveries (1991-2014) occurring at a tertiary medical center. Gestational age was divided into: early prematurity, late prematurity, and early, full, late, and post term. Hospitalizations of offspring up to 18 years of age involving ophthalmic morbidity were evaluated. Survival curves compared cumulative hospitalizations and regression models controlled for confounders. RESULTS: During the study period, 243 363 deliveries met the inclusion criteria. Ophthalmic-related hospitalization rates were lower among early-term born children (1.0%) as compared with early- (2.2%) and late-preterm (1.3%) born children, but higher than those in full- (0.9%), late- (0.8%), and post-term (0.8%) born offspring (P < 0.001). The survival curve demonstrated significantly different hospitalization rates in the different gestational ages (P < 0.001). The regression demonstrated an independent risk for ophthalmic morbidity among early-term born offspring (adjusted hazard ratio 1.14, confidence interval 1.03-1.27, P = 0.009), whereas late- and post-term deliveries were associated with a lower risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.83 and 0.74, respectively) as compared with full-term deliveries. CONCLUSION: The risk for long-term ophthalmic-related hospitalizations of offspring gradually declines as gestational age advances.