Document Detail


Birth weight and perinatal mortality: the effect of gestational age.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  1536353     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The strong association between birth weight and perinatal mortality is due both to gestational age and to factors unrelated to gestational age. Conventional analysis obscures these separate contributions to perinatal mortality, and overemphasizes the role of birth weight. An alternative approach is used here to separate gestational age from other factors. METHODS: Data are from 400,000 singleton births in the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry. The method of Wilcox and Russell is used to distinguish the contributions to perinatal mortality made by gestational age and by relative birth weight at each gestational age. RESULTS: Gestational age is a powerful predictor of birth weight and perinatal survival. After these effects of gestational age are controlled for, relative birth weight retains a strong association with survival. CONCLUSIONS: Current public health policies in the United States emphasize the prevention of low birth weight. The present analysis suggests that the prevention of early delivery would benefit babies of all birth weights.
Authors:
A J Wilcox; R Skjaerven
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of public health     Volume:  82     ISSN:  0090-0036     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Public Health     Publication Date:  1992 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1992-03-26     Completed Date:  1992-03-26     Revised Date:  2010-09-07    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  1254074     Medline TA:  Am J Public Health     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  378-82     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Birth Weight*
Causality
Evaluation Studies as Topic
Female
Gestational Age*
Humans
Infant Mortality*
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Models, Statistical*
Normal Distribution*
Obstetric Labor, Premature / epidemiology,  prevention & control
Predictive Value of Tests
Pregnancy
Registries
Comments/Corrections

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