title: The role of race/ethnicity in cerclage efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the impact of race/ethnicity on cerclage efficacy, as measured by the prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), in a cohort of patients with history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclage placement from January 2003 to July 2013 at a tertiary care hospital. Patients' race/ethnicity was self-declared. Our primary outcome was spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) < 37 weeks. Subgroup analyses were performed for each of the three indications for cerclage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and eighty-one subjects met inclusion criteria. Forty-seven percent self-identified as non-Hispanic black (NHB), 12% as Hispanic and 41% as non-Hispanic white (NHW). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of SPTB < 37 weeks between the three race/ethnicity groups (33% versus 19% versus 40%, respectively, p = 0.22), nor for SPTB less than 34 or 28 weeks. Finally, there was no difference in SPTB prevalence by race after controlling for smoking, history of CKC/LEEP, and 17-OHPC with logistic regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Race/ethnicity does not appear to be associated with cerclage efficacy, as measured by the risk of SPTB, in a cohort of patients with history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclages.
authors: a Greenville Health System , Greenville, SC , USA.
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Fryer
authors: a Greenville Health System , Greenville, SC , USA.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Keiser
authors: a Greenville Health System , Greenville, SC , USA.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Trofatter
authors: a Greenville Health System , Greenville, SC , USA.
authors: Kacey Y
authors: KY
authors: Eichelberger
authors: a Greenville Health System , Greenville, SC , USA.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Heberlein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D023802:Cerclage, Cervical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Preterm birth; cerclage; disparities; race/ethnicity