Potentially avoidable perinatal deaths in Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania as classified by the Nordic-Baltic classification.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse which subgroups of perinatal deaths contribute most to the perinatal mortality rate in Lithuania compared with Denmark/Sweden.


METHODS
Comparison of all perinatal deaths in Denmark/Sweden 1991 and Lithuania 1993-1994 by the common Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification, based on information from the medical records.


RESULTS
The doubled perinatal mortality in Lithuania compared with Denmark/Sweden is mainly explained by a threefold increase of intrapartum and two- to fivefold increase in neonatal deaths of nonmalformed infants. The higher rate of malformed infants is partly explained by a four times higher mortality from neural tube defects.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a common perinatal death classification has identified categories mainly responsible for the higher rate of perinatal mortality, but further investigation of potentially avoidable factors requires further study.
Langhoff-Roos
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Larsen
S
S
Basys
V
V
Lindmark
G
G
Badokynote
M
M
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology