Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, have participated in one of the largest studies on the causes of stillbirth to date. The results bring some good news and some not so good news.
According to the study, stillbirth affects 1 in 160 pregnancies in the United States, which is equal to the number of infant deaths each year. Rates of fetal deaths are higher here than in other developed countries. Researchers noted that there is a significant racial disparity in stillbirths that is currently unexplained.
For the study researchers analyzed data from 59 hospitals across the country between March 2006 to September 2008. The study looked at 614 stillbirths, at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later, and 1,816 live births during that time period. Researchers found that factors associated with stillbirth include:
Non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity;
Obesity;
Diabetes;
Pregnancy after age 40;
Maternal AB blood type;
Not living with a partner;
Smoking during three months prior to pregnancy; and
History of illicit drug use.
The bad news is the highest risk factor for having a stillbirth was race,and that’s one factor no one can control for. What the researchers call a “significant racial disparity” is currently unexplained.
The researchers noted that other factors associated with a higher risk of stillbirth can be controlled such as obesity, smoking within three months prior to pregnancy and history of drug use. “Moms-to-be and clinicians have a window of opportunity to save babies’ lives by maintaining a healthy weight, managing conditions such as diabetes and stopping all unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, prior to pregnancy,” Dr. George Saade, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at UTMB, said in a press release.
“We were surprised to learn that while these risk factors were significant on their own, they didn’t account for the largest risk of stillbirth. Even if effective, reducing modifiable risks across the board would be unlikely to prevent all stillbirths,” he continued.