Induction of Labor at 39 Weeks Benefits Perinatal Outcomes for Some
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, July 21, 2023 -- Induction of labor (IOL) at 39 weeks is associated with a small reduction in the risk for adverse perinatal outcomes, particularly for women with socioeconomic deprivation and nulliparous women, according to a study published online July 20 in PLOS Medicine.
Patrick Muller, Ph.D., from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and colleagues sought to identify adverse perinatal outcomes associated with IOL with birth at 39 weeks of gestation versus expectant management based on maternal characteristics in women with low-risk pregnancies. The analysis included data from 1.6 million women with singleton pregnancy births at National Health Service hospitals from January 2018 to March 2021.
The researchers found that 3.3 percent of births in the IOL group and 3.6 percent in the expectant management group had an adverse perinatal outcome, which persisted in an adjusted analysis (risk difference, −0.28 percent). Based on socioeconomic background, this risk difference varied (0.38 percent in the least deprived to −0.48 percent in the most deprived national quintile). Differences were also seen by parity status (risk difference of −0.54 percent in nulliparous women and −0.15 percent in multiparous women). Risk differences did not vary by ethnicity.
"An increased uptake of IOL with birth at 39 weeks, especially in women from more socioeconomically deprived areas and in nulliparous women, may help reduce inequalities in perinatal outcomes," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
![](/img/logo/vendor/healthday-logo.png)
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2023
Read this next
Mean Cost of Bringing New Drug to U.S. Market Is $879.3 Million
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- The mean cost of developing a new drug for the U.S. market is estimated to be $879.3 million when both drug development failure and capital costs are...
Patient–Primary Care Provider Language Concordance Tied to Better Outcomes
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- Patient-family physician language concordance is associated with a lower risk for adverse outcomes, according to a study published online June 3...
Self-Administered Gerocognitive Exam Improves Detection of Cognitive Issues in Primary Care
TUESDAY, July 2, 2024 -- A self-administered gerocognitive examination (SAGE) is easily incorporated into primary care provider (PCP) visits, and its use significantly increases...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.