HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Krakowiak, P. Articles by Lydon-Rochelle, M. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Krakowiak, P. Articles by Lydon-Rochelle, M. T. Related Collections General gynecology Labor and operative obstetrics Medical complications of pregnancy Obstetric complications of pregnancy Pediatrics/neonatology Epidemiology/public health

Risk Factors and Outcomes Associated With a Short Umbilical Cord

From the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Child Nursing, School of Nursing, and Department of Health Services, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; and Divisions of Human Biology and Clinical Research and Program in Infectious Diseases, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.

Address reprint requests to: Mona T. Lydon-Rochelle, PhD, MPH, CNM, University of Washington, Box 357262, Seattle, Washington 98195–7762; Phone: (206) 221–6576, Fax: (206) 543–6656, e-mail: minot{at}u.washington.edu.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors and outcomes associated with a short umbilical cord.

METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study using linked Washington State birth certificate–hospital discharge data for singleton live births from 1987 to 1998 to assess the association between maternal, pregnancy, delivery, and infant characteristics and short umbilical cord. Cases (n = 3,565) were infants diagnosed with a short umbilical cord. Controls (n = 14,260) were randomly selected from among births without a diagnosis of short umbilical cord.

RESULTS: Case mothers were less likely to be overweight (body mass index 25 or more, odds ratio [OR] 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6, 0.8) and more likely to be primiparous (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.3, 1.6). Case infants were more likely to be female (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2, 1.4), have a congenital malformation (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4, 1.8), and be small for their gestational age (risk ratio [RR] 1.6; 95% CI 1.4, 1.9). A short cord was associated with increased risk for maternal labor and delivery complications, including retained placenta (RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2, 2.3) and operative vaginal delivery (RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.3, 1.5). Adverse fetal and infant outcomes in cases included fetal distress (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.6, 2.1) and death within the first year of life among term infants (RR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2, 4.6).

CONCLUSION: Modifiable risk factors associated with the development of a short cord were not identified. Case mothers and infants are more likely to experience labor and delivery complications. Term case infants had a 2-fold increased risk of death, which suggests closer postpartum monitoring of these infants.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Getahun, Y. Oyelese, H. M. Salihu, and C. V. Ananth Previous Cesarean Delivery and Risks of Placenta Previa and Placental Abruption. Obstet. Gynecol., April 1, 2006; 107(4): 771 - 778. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]