[Prematurity, low birth weight and the interval between pregnancies].
BACKGROUND
In the literature, it is not clear what influence a short interpregnancy interval has on the risk of prematurity and low birth weight.


METHODS
Between 5.241 births, we selected 279 pairs of newborns consecutive of the same mother, excluding multiple pregnancies and fetal loss. We investigated the relation of the interval between pregnancies to the risk of prematurity-low birth weight.


RESULTS
Our newborns with shorter interpregnancy intervals had a lower birth weight. Among the of less than 3 months the prevalence of prematurity-low birth weight was slightly greater (7.1%, OR: 2.14), although the difference didn't reach statistical signification. The multiple logistic-regression analysis determined that the only significantly predictive variable was the previous history of prematurity or low birth weight (OR = 12.49; C.I.95% 3.4-44.4).


CONCLUSIONS
The short interpregnancy interval has had a scarce effect on the risk of prematurity and low birth weight. They are another obstetrical risk factors interrelated with greater impact to the gestational outcome.
Ochoa Sangrador
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C
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Zamora.
Luque Benlloch
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C
Carrascal Tejado
A
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors