Neonatal respiratory morbidity in the early term delivery.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of respiratory morbidity in neonates delivered at "early term" (37-38 weeks) compared with those delivered at 39 weeks.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton deliveries from 37(0/7) to 39(6/7) weeks' gestation. Our primary outcome was composite respiratory morbidity.


RESULTS
Of 2273 deliveries at 37-39 weeks, 51% (n = 1169) delivered in the early term period. Infants delivered at 37-38 weeks had a 2-fold increased risk of respiratory distress syndrome, oxygen use, continuous positive airway pressure use, and composite respiratory morbidity (risk ratio [RR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-7.9; oxygen usage RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.9; continuous positive airway pressure RR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2; composite respiratory morbidity RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.8).


CONCLUSIONS
The 2-fold increased risk of composite respiratory morbidity of infants in the early term period supports the urgency for limiting nonindicated deliveries to ≥ 39 weeks' gestation.
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Kobina
K
Ghartey
Jaclyn
J
Coletta
Liza
L
Lizarraga
Elizabeth
E
Murphy
Cande V
CV
Ananth
Cynthia
C
Gyamfi-Bannerman
D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies