Neonatal Mortality Disparities by Gestational Age in European Countries.

Importance: There are wide disparities in neonatal mortality rates (NMRs, deaths <28 days of life after live birth per 1000 live births) between countries in Europe, indicating potential for improvement. Comparing country-specific patterns of births and deaths with countries with low mortality rates can facilitate the development of effective intervention strategies.

Objective: To investigate how these disparities are associated with the distribution of gestational age (GA) and GA-specific mortality rates.

Socioeconomic disparities in changes to preterm birth and stillbirth rates during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of 21 European countries.

Background: Despite concerns about worsening pregnancy outcomes resulting from healthcare restrictions, economic difficulties and increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, preterm birth (PTB) rates declined in some countries in 2020, while stillbirth rates appeared stable. Like other shocks, the pandemic may have exacerbated existing socioeconomic disparities in pregnancy, but this remains to be established. Our objective was to investigate changes in PTB and stillbirth by socioeconomic status (SES) in European countries.

European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology position statement on maternal mortality surveillance in Europe.

Maternal mortality data and review are important indicators of the effectiveness of maternity healthcare systems and an impetus for action. Recently, a rising incidence of maternal mortality in high income countries has been reported. Various publications have raised concern about data collection methods at country level, as this usually relies mainly on national vital statistics.

Trends in caesarean section rates in Europe from 2015 to 2019 using Robson's Ten Group Classification System: A Euro-Peristat study.

Objective: To assess changes in caesarean section (CS) rates in Europe from 2015 to 2019 and utilise the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) to evaluate the contribution of different obstetric populations to overall CS rates and trends.

Design: Observational study utilising routine birth registry data.

Setting: A total of 28 European countries.

Retained products of conception - a retrospective analysis of 200 cases of surgical procedures for the diagnosis of residua postpartum.

Objectives: Postpartum retained products of conception are a relatively rare diagnosis occurring in approximately 1% of cases after spontaneous deliveries and abortions. The most common clinical signs are bleeding and abdominal pain. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs and ultrasound examination.

The amenorrhea as a protective factor for healing of hysterotomy - a retrospective analysis one year postpartum.

Objectives: The good healing of the hysterotomy after cesarean section is important for subsequent pregnancies. However, the factors which improve this healing have not been completely described, yet. In this study, we focused on factors which may affect healing of hysterotomy within one year after delivery, such as menstruation, breastfeeding, and the use of the contraception.

Neonatal mortality risk for vulnerable newborn types in 15 countries using 125.5 million nationwide birth outcome records, 2000-2020.

Objective: To compare neonatal mortality associated with six novel vulnerable newborn types in 125.5 million live births across 15 countries, 2000-2020.

Design: Population-based, multi-country study.

Vulnerable newborn types: Analysis of population-based registries for 165 million births in 23 countries, 2000-2021.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of novel newborn types among 165 million live births in 23 countries from 2000 to 2021.

Design: Population-based, multi-country analysis.

Setting: National data systems in 23 middle- and high-income countries.

Complications of planned home births in the Czech Republic.

Objectives: This study evaluated complications that can occur during planned home births that require transfer to the hospital. These factors were assessed to improve the current status of deliveries performed outside health care facilities in the Czech Republic.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study included data on 105 cases of complicated home births during 2017 to 2021 using an online form accessible to all hospital maternity wards in the Czech Republic.

Endometriosis in postmenopause.

In our review article, we focused on the rare topic of endometriosis in postmenopause. Endometriosis is primarily a disease of women of reproductive age. In postmenopause, atrophy of endometriosis foci usually occurs.

Cesarean scar pregnancy - a retrospective analysis of cases in the years 2012-2021.

Introduction: With the increasing number of caesarean sections, the number of cesarean scar pregnancies (CSP) is also increasing. This is a relatively new entity of an ectopic pregnancy, which is risky mainly because of its possible association with placenta accreta spectrum. CSP is thought to represent about 6% of the total number of ectopic pregnancies in all women who have a history of at least one caesarean section.

Clarity and consistency in stillbirth reporting in Europe: why is it so hard to get this right?

Background: Stillbirth is a major public health problem, but measurement remains a challenge even in high-income countries. We compared routine stillbirth statistics in Europe reported by Eurostat with data from the Euro-Peristat research network.

Methods: We used data on stillbirths in 2015 from both sources for 31 European countries.

Complications of planned home births in the Czech Republic between 2016‒2017.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the complications of planned home births treated at healthcare facilities in the Czech Republic.

Methods: This prospective cohort observational study is based on analysis of women hospitalized with complications related to planned home deliveries in the Czech Republic between 2016 and 2017. The data were collected using an online form made accessible to the directors of all maternity hospitals in the Czech Republic.

What European gynaecologists need to master: Consensus on medical expertise outcomes of pan-European postgraduate training in obstetrics & gynaecology.

Objective: European harmonisation of training standards in postgraduate medical education in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is needed because of the increasing mobility of medical specialists. Harmonisation of training will provide quality assurance of training and promote high quality care throughout Europe. Pan-European training standards should describe medical expertise outcomes that are required from the European gynaecologist.

Can the Apgar Score be Used for International Comparisons of Newborn Health?

Background: The Apgar score has been shown to be predictive of neonatal mortality in clinical and population studies, but has not been used for international comparisons. We examined population-level distributions in Apgar scores and associations with neonatal mortality in Europe.

Methods: Aggregate data on the 5 minute Apgar score for live births and neonatal mortality rates from countries participating in the Euro-Peristat project in 2004 and 2010 were analysed.

Cross-Country Individual Participant Analysis of 4.1 Million Singleton Births in 5 Countries with Very High Human Development Index Confirms Known Associations but Provides No Biologic Explanation for 2/3 of All Preterm Births.

Background: Preterm birth is the most common single cause of perinatal and infant mortality, affecting 15 million infants worldwide each year with global rates increasing. Understanding of risk factors remains poor, and preventive interventions have only limited benefit. Large differences exist in preterm birth rates across high income countries.

Variations in Multiple Birth Rates and Impact on Perinatal Outcomes in Europe.

Objective: Infants from multiple pregnancies have higher rates of preterm birth, stillbirth and neonatal death and differences in multiple birth rates (MBR) exist between countries. We aimed to describe differences in MBR in Europe and to investigate the impact of these differences on adverse perinatal outcomes at a population level.

Methods: We used national aggregate birth data on multiple pregnancies, maternal age, gestational age (GA), stillbirth and neonatal death collected in the Euro-Peristat project (29 countries in 2010, N = 5 074 643 births).

Varying gestational age patterns in cesarean delivery: an international comparison.

Background: While international variations in overall cesarean delivery rates are well documented, less information is available for clinical sub-groups. Cesarean data presented by subgroups can be used to evaluate uptake of cesarean reduction policies or to monitor delivery practices for high and low risk pregnancies based on new scientific evidence. We studied differences and patterns in cesarean delivery rates by multiplicity and gestational age in Europe and the United States.

International comparisons of fetal and neonatal mortality rates in high-income countries: should exclusion thresholds be based on birth weight or gestational age?

Background: Fetal and neonatal mortality rates are essential indicators of population health, but variations in recording of births and deaths at the limits of viability compromises international comparisons. The World Health Organization recommends comparing rates after exclusion of births with a birth weight less than 1000 grams, but many analyses of perinatal outcomes are based on gestational age. We compared the effects of using a 1000-gram birth weight or a 28-week gestational age threshold on reported rates of fetal and neonatal mortality in Europe.

TVT-S for surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence: prospective trial, 1-year follow-up.

Introduction And Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of and morbidity associated with the tension-free vaginal tape-secur (TVT-S) procedure in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Methods: We performed a prospective trial, examining 86 women with primary SUI. Eighty-two patients had a 1-year follow-up (dropout rate = 4.

TVT and TVT-O for surgical treatment of primary stress urinary incontinence: prospective randomized trial.

Introduction And Hypothesis: A study was conducted to compare the efficacy and complications of TVT and TVT-O.

Methods: This study is a prospective randomized trial involving 300 women with primary SUI; 149 received TVT, and 151 patients were treated with TVT-O. At the 1 year follow-up, 141 TVT patients and 147 TVT-O patients (dropout, 5.