title: Umbilical cord length in singleton gestations: a Finnish population-based retrospective register study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many complications of pregnancy and delivery are associated with umbilical cord length. It is important to examine the variation in length, in order to identify normal and abnormal conditions. Moreover, the factors influencing cord growth and development are not precisely known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objectives were to provide updated reference charts for umbilical cord length in singleton pregnancies and to evaluate potential factors affecting cord length.
  
  
  METHODS
  Birth register data of 47,284 singleton pregnant women delivering in Kuopio University Hospital, Finland was collected prospectively. Gender-specific centile charts for cord length from 22 to 44 gestational weeks were obtained using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). Gestational, fetal, and maternal factors were studied for their potential influence on cord length with single variable analysis and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cord length increased according to gestational age, while the growth decelerated post-term. Birth weight, placental weight, pregravid maternal body mass index, parity, and maternal age correlated to cord length. Gestational diabetes and previous miscarriages were associated with longer cords, while female gender and placental abruption were associated with shorter cords.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Girls had shorter cords throughout gestation although there was substantial variation in length in both genders. Cord length associated significantly with birth weight, placental weight, and gestational age. Significantly shorter cords were found in women with placental abruption. This important finding requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Department of Clinical Medicine, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Leena.Georgiadis@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Department of Clinical Medicine, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Environmental Health, P.O Box 95, 70701 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Leea.Keski-Nisula@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keski-Nisula
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Department of Clinical Medicine, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Maijakaisa.Harju@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: shraisan@student.uef.fi.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Räisänen
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Department of Applied Physics, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Stefanos.Georgiadis@uef.fi.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Georgiadis
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Marja-Leena.Hannila@uef.fi.
authors.forename: M-L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hannila
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O Box 100, 70029 Kuopio, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Department of Clinical Medicine, P.O Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Seppo.Heinonen@kuh.fi.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Growth charts; Placental abruption; Umbilical cord; Umbilical cord length