title: The Canadian Perinatal Network: a national network focused on threatened preterm birth at 22 to 28 weeks' gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Canadian Perinatal Network (CPN) maintains an ongoing national database focused on threatened very preterm birth. The objective of the network is to facilitate between-hospital comparisons and other research that will lead to reductions in the burden of illness associated with very preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were included in the database if they were admitted to a participating tertiary perinatal unit at 22+0 to 28+6 weeks' gestation with one or more conditions most commonly responsible for very preterm birth, including spontaneous preterm labour with contractions, incompetent cervix, prolapsing membranes, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction, or antepartum hemorrhage. Data were collected by review of maternal and infant charts, entered directly into standardized electronic data forms and uploaded to the CPN via a secure network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2005 and 2009, the CPN enrolled 2524 women from 14 hospitals including those with preterm labour and contractions (27.4%), short cervix without contractions (16.3%), prolapsing membranes (9.4%), antepartum hemorrhage (26.1%), and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (23.0%). The mean gestational age at enrolment was 25.9 ± 1.9 weeks and the mean gestation age at delivery was 29.9 ± 5.1 weeks; 57.0% delivered at < 29 weeks and 75.4% at < 34 weeks. Complication rates were high and included serious maternal complications (26.7%), stillbirth (8.2%), neonatal death (16.3%), neonatal intensive care unit admission (60.7%), and serious neonatal morbidity (35.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This national dataset contains detailed information about women at risk of very preterm birth. It is available to clinicians and researchers who are working with one or more CPN collaborators and who are interested in studies relating processes of care to maternal or perinatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: von Dadelszen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS.
authors.forename: Victoria M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ansermino
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universite de Montreal, Montreal QC.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Audibert
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Rollin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brant
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universite Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bujold
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's NL.
authors.forename: Joan M G
authors.initials: JMG
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB.
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demianczuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics University of Toronto, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Shoo K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Universite Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piedboeuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen's University, Kingston ON.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Calgary, Calgary ON.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Tang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC; Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Liston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors