title: Trends of preterm birth and low birth weight in Japan: a one hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proportions of preterm birth (PTB, ie., delivered before 37 gestational weeks) and low birth weight (LBW, ie., birth weight less than 2500 g at delivery) have been rising in developed countries. We sought to examine the factors contributing to the rise in Japan, with particular focus on the effects of obstetric interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a database maintained by one large regional hospital in Shizuoka, Japan. We restricted the analysis to mothers who delivered live singleton births from 1997 to 2010 (n = 19,221). We assessed the temporal trends in PTB and LBW, then divided the study period into four intervals and compared the proportions of PTB and LBW. We also compared the newborns' outcomes between the intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTB, in particular medically indicated PTB, increased considerably. The increase was largely explained by changes in caesarean sections. The neonatal outcomes did not worsen, and instead the Apgar scores and proportions requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission improved. In particular, the risks of NICU admission in the interval from 2007 to 2010 were decreased among all births [odds ratio (OR): 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75, 0.95] and medically indicated births (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.68) compared with the interval from 1997 to 2000.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the increases in PTB as well as LBW, the present study suggests benefits of obstetric interventions. Rather than simple categorization of PTB or LBW, indicators such as perinatal mortality or other outcomes may be more appropriate for evaluation of perinatal health in developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Ecology, Okayama University Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, 3-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan. yorichan@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yorifuji
authors.forename: Hiroo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naruse
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakoshi
authors.forename: Tsuguhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult