Authors

Ying Yang, Ph.D., Yuan He, Ph.D., Qian Li, M.S., Yuanyuan Wang, Ph.D., Zuoqi Peng, M.D., Jihong Xu, Ph.D., Xu Ma, M.S.

Volume 104, Issue 1, Pages 124–130

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the relationship between preconception blood pressure (BP) and the risk of preterm birth (PTB) using a historical cohort of reproductive-aged women and girls from a Chinese rural population.

Design:

A historical cohort study established between 2010 and 2013 in People’s Republic of China.

Setting:

Local family-planning service agencies and maternal–child care service centers.

Patient(s):

A total of 367,425 reproductive-aged women and girls who participated in the National Free Pre-pregnancy Checkups in 2010–2012 and subsequently had a live birth before October 2013.

Intervention(s):

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Incidence rates of PTB in reproductive-aged women and girls across preconception BP levels.

Result(s):

Preterm births were defined as babies born alive at 28 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. Compared with the participants with a systolic BP of

Conclusion(s):

Our results indicated a strong linear and independent relationship between BP levels and the risk of PTB in Chinese reproductive-aged women and girls. Maternal hypertension before pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of PTB.

Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(15)00229-0/fulltext