title: Recurrence risk of low birthweight deliveries among women with a prior very low birthweight delivery.
abstract: To estimate the risk of repeat low birthweight deliveries among women whose first child was very low birthweight (less than 1500 g), a retrospective cohort of women who had their first and second children in Washington state between 1984 and 1991 was studied. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a woman whose first infant was very low birthweight experienced an 11.5-fold increased risk of delivering a low birthweight (less than 2500 g) second infant (relative risk 11.5, 95% confidence interval 5.4 to 24.4). Women with a very low birthweight first infant also had a significantly increased risk of repeat very low birthweight infant (p < 0.0001). Women with a previous very low birthweight delivery are at increased risk of repeat low and very low birthweight infants. This high-risk group may benefit from education regarding recurrence risk and modification of factors associated with low birthweight, as well as good prenatal care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pediatric Critical Care, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bratton
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shoultz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010331:Paternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors