Association of labour duration in spontaneous deliveries with low neonatal Apgar scores and foetal acidosis: the Japan Environment and Children's Study

Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 13;12(1):21519. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-24359-3.

Abstract

This study evaluated the association between labour duration (LD) and incidence of low neonatal Apgar scores and foetal acidosis. Data of 37,682 women with full-term singleton spontaneous vaginal deliveries from the Japan Environment and Children's Study were analysed. Women were classified according to the median LD as nulliparous (< 10 or ≥ 10 h) or multiparous (< 5 or ≥ 5 h) and further into five subcategories: nulliparous (< 10.0, 10.0-12.9, 13.0-15.9, 16.0-18.9, and ≥ 19 h) and multiparous (< 5.0, 5.0-7.9, 8.0-10.9, 11.0-13.9, and ≥ 14.0 h). Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios (ORs) for outcomes in women with over-median LD. Over-median LD exhibited no statistically significant association with low neonatal Apgar scores. The adjusted ORs for both umbilical artery (UmA-pH) < 7.2 and < 7.1 were increased in nulliparous women with over-median LD, whereas only the adjusted OR for UmA-pH < 7.2 was increased in multiparous women with over-median LD. Moreover, this association manifested as a plateau in nulliparous women with LD ≥ 13 h and without dose-dependent association in multiparous women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acidosis* / epidemiology
  • Apgar Score
  • Child
  • Delivery, Obstetric
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Umbilical Arteries