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Low-birthweight Babies (low-birthweight + baby)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

The relationship between periodontal disease and preterm low birthweight: clinical and microbiological results

JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008
M. V. Vettore
Background and Objective:, Findings on the effect of periodontal disease on preterm low birthweight are inconclusive. The objective of this study was to compare periodontal clinical measures and the levels and proportions of 39 bacterial species in subgingival biofilm samples in puerperal women with preterm low birthweight and nonpreterm low birthweight. Material and Methods:, A case-control study with 116 postpartum women over 30 years of age was conducted. Four case groups of subjects with preterm and/or low birthweight [preterm (n = 40), low birthweight (n = 35), preterm and/or low birthweight (n = 50) and preterm and low birthweight (n = 25)] were compared with normal nonpreterm low-birthweight controls (n = 66). Periodontal clinical parameters of dental plaque, calculus, bleeding on probing, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment level were recorded. Covariates included socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, smoking, alcohol consumption, obstetric history, prenatal care and diseases during pregnancy. Two subgingival biofilm samples per women were analyzed for 39 bacterial species using a checkerboard DNA,DNA hybridization technique. Results:, The mean periodontal pocket depth was significantly higher in nonpreterm low-birthweight controls than in subjects in the preterm low birthweight, preterm and/or low birthweight, and preterm and low-birthweight groups. Clinical attachment level measures were not different between all pairs of cases and control groups. Groups did not differ with respect to the mean proportions of different microbial complexes. The mean counts of Treponema socranskii were lower in all case groups compared with the control group. Conclusion:, Maternal periodontal microbiota and clinical characteristics of periodontal disease were not associated with having preterm low-birthweight babies. [source]

Z -scores and the birthweight paradox

PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Enrique F. Schisterman
Summary Investigators have long puzzled over the observation that low-birthweight babies of smokers tend to fare better than low-birthweight babies of non-smokers. Similar observations have been made with regard to factors other than smoking status, including socio-economic status, race and parity. Use of standardised birthweights, or birthweight z -scores, has been proposed as an approach to resolve the crossing of the curves that is the hallmark of the so-called birthweight paradox. In this paper, we utilise directed acyclic graphs, analytical proofs and an extensive simulation study to consider the use of z -scores of birthweight and their effect on statistical analysis. We illustrate the causal questions implied by inclusion of birthweight in statistical models, and illustrate the utility of models that include birthweight or z -scores to address those questions. Both analytically and through a simulation study we show that neither birthweight nor z -score adjustment may be used for effect decomposition. The z -score approach yields an unbiased estimate of the total effect, even when collider-stratification would adversely impact estimates from birthweight-adjusted models; however, the total effect could have been estimated more directly with an unadjusted model. The use of z -scores does not add additional information beyond the use of unadjusted models. Thus, the ability of z -scores to successfully resolve the paradoxical crossing of mortality curves is due to an alteration in the causal parameter being estimated (total effect), rather than adjustment for confounding or effect decomposition or other factors. [source]

Costs of neonatal care for low-birthweight babies in English hospitals

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 7 2009
Hema Mistry
Abstract Aim:, To estimate mean costs of neonatal care for babies with birthweights ,1800 g in a regional Level 3 unit and three Level 2 units providing short-term intensive care. Method:, Babies ,1800 g admitted to units in four hospitals in England over 15 months in 2001,2002 were audited until discharge. Unit costs (2005,2006 prices) were attributed to their resource items, including neonatal cot occupancy, pharmaceuticals, blood products and ambulance transfers. Bootstrapped mean costs were derived for the Level 3 unit and the Level 2 units combined. Results:, The mean gestation period for 199 Level 3 babies was 29.5 weeks compared with 30.4 weeks for 192 Level 2 babies (p = 0.003). Mean costs excluding ambulance journeys were £17 861 per Level 3 baby and £12 344 per Level 2 baby. Level 3 babies <1000 g averaged £26 815, whereas Level 2 babies <1000 g were generally less costly than babies 1000,1499 g. Ambulances transported 76 Level 3 babies and 62 Level 2 babies; their adjusted mean costs were £18 495 and £12 881, respectively. Conclusion:, By comprehensively costing resource components, the magnitude of total costs for low-birthweight babies has been revealed, thus demonstrating the importance of budgets for neonatal units being realistically determined by commissioners of neonatal services. [source]