Stillbirth following previous cesarean section in Bavaria/Germany 1987-2005.
BACKGROUND
An elevated risk for unexplained stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies after cesarean section was reported in 2003. This finding would imply renewed discussions about stronger indications for cesarean sections.


OBJECTIVE
To find out whether there is an elevated risk for stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies after cesarean section in our cohort in Bavaria.


METHODS
As data linkage of records is not possible in Germany, we devised a suitable adjustment for bias correction. Second pregnancies in Bavaria/Germany after previous vaginal birth and previous cesarean section from 1987 to 2005 were analyzed. Risk of unexplained stillbirth was estimated by time-to-event analysis.


RESULTS
In our cohort of 629,815 second pregnancies, no elevated stillbirth risk in pregnancies after previous cesarean section compared to previous vaginal birth was noted (crude risk 0.22% in both groups; hazard ratio (HR) 1.00; P = 1.0). A slightly decreased risk for stillbirth after previous cesarean section for the period of 1994-2005 (HR 0.674; P = 0.04) could be shown.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no elevated stillbirth risk in pregnancies after previous cesarean section. The significantly lower risk for stillbirths after previous cesarean section in the period 1994-2005 is interpreted as consequence of improved obstetric surveillance. With our adjustment for bias correction, we hope to have found a way to make our data largely comparable with other sources reported in the literature. However, because of the strict German data protection act, the Bavarian birth register is only of limited use for the presented study.
Franz
Maximilian B
MB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany.
Lack
Nicholas
N
Schiessl
Barbara
B
Mylonas
Ioannis
I
Friese
Klaus
K
Kainer
Franz
F
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*