Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy and the risk of prematurity: a meta-analysis.
J Fam Pract. 1999 Nov;48(11):885-92.
Flynn CA1, Helwig AL, Meurer LN.
Center for Evidence Based Practice, Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Syracuse, USA. flynnc at mailbox.hscsyr.edu
Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D has the following summary
Problem | Reduces | Evidence |
| 0. Chance of not conceiving | 3.4 times | Observe |
| 1. Miscarriage | 2.5 times | Observe |
| 2. Pre-eclampsia | 3.6 times | RCT |
| 3. Gestational Diabetes | 3 times | RCT |
| 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality | 3.5 times | Observe |
| 5. Premature birth | 2 times | RCT |
| 6. C-section - unplanned | 1.6 times | Observe |
| Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 | 4 times | RCT - Omega-3 |
| 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy | 1.4 times | RCT |
| 8. Small for Gestational Age | 1.6 times | meta-analysis |
| 9. Infant height, weight, head size within normal limits | RCT | |
| 10. Childhood Wheezing | 1.3 times | RCT |
| 11. Additional child is Autistic | 4 times | Intervention |
| 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis | 1.9 times | Observe |
| 13. Preeclampsia in young adult | 3.5 times | RCT |
| 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 | 1.4 times | Observe |
| 15. Childhood Mite allergy | 5 times | RCT |
| 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits | 2.5 times | RCT |
RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE:
We conducted this meta-analysis to determine the magnitude of risk conferred by bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy on preterm delivery.
SEARCH STRATEGY:
We selected articles from a combination of the results of a MEDLINE search (1966-1996), a manual search of bibliographies, and contact with leading researchers.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
We included case control and cohort studies evaluating the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or preterm labor for pregnant women who had bacterial vaginosis and those who did not.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.
Two investigators independently conducted literature searches, applied inclusion criteria, performed data extraction, and critically appraised included studies. Summary estimates of risk were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) using the fixed and random effects models.
MAIN RESULTS:
We included 19 studies in the final analysis. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy was associated with a statistically significant increased risk for all outcomes evaluated. In the subanalyses for preterm delivery, bacterial vaginosis remained a significant risk factor. Pooling adjusted ORs yielded a 60% increased risk of preterm delivery given the presence of bacterial vaginosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
Bacterial vaginosis is an important risk factor for prematurity and pregnancy morbidity. Further studies will help clarify the benefits of treating bacterial vaginosis and the potential role of screening during pregnancy.
Comment in
To screen or not to screen? Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. J Fam Pract. 1999
PMID: 10907626
Free full text – not PDF – is online
- “Between 25% and 60% of preterm births are thought to be attributable to maternal infections,4,5 and are thus considered preventable.”
- “BV is fairly common, with a prevalence ranging from 10% to 30% in an typical obstetrical population 6 to more than 50% in some high-risk groups”
Cited by 129 other studies as of Feb 2017
- Bacterial vaginosis as a risk factor for preterm delivery: A meta-analysis 2003 (PDF at ResearchGate and DeepDyve)
bacterial vaginosis at <16 weeks of gestation ==> 7.5 X increased risk of premature birth
bacterial vaginosis at <20 weeks of gestation ==> 4.2 X increased risk of premature birth
bacterial vaginosis spontaneous abortion risk increased 9.91