Novel thoughts on preterm birth research proceedings of the 13th annual preterm birth international collaborative (PREBIC) meeting

In 1961, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined preterm birth (PTB) as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation.1 Since which time, the rate of PTB has not decreased, albeit that the risk factors for PTB such as obesity, substance abuse and multiple pregnancy have increased. Thirty-seven weeks gestation was chosen because at this gestational age, 2500g represents the 10th centile for birth weight, and provides the definition of low birth weight (LBW). However, while 60% of PTBs occur after 35 completed weeks of gestation, about 90% of the associated morbidity and mortality occurs before this time.

Source: Seminars in Perinatology - October 24, 2017 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Ramkumar Menon, Elizabeth A. Bonney, Siobhan M. Dolan, Mark Johnson, Ronald F. Lamont, Sam Mesiano, Amy P. Murtha, Leslie Myatt, Indira Mysorekar, Scott M Williams, Nanbert Zhong, Hanns Helmer Source Type: research