Statistics
Statistics are always difficult to interpret because they show either the spread of a condition or the average outcome. Generally they do not take into account particular features of a patient. In Obstetrics there is a concept of the ‘low risk’ patient. Excellent outcome, with very low risk obstetrically is associated with high socio-economic class, age 22-25 years, body mass index 20-24, no associated medical condition and normal antenatal care. Conversely, adverse features are obesity, older age, first baby, poor social circumstances, smoking.
The standard figure for Outcome is the Perinatal Mortality Rate. At National Women’s this is 8 per thousand after adjusting for ‘irretrievable losses’ such as lethal fetal abnormality or extreme prematurity. My results are approximately 1 per thousand.
The Statistics for the General Outcome of Pregnancy
| >15% will miscarry |
| 6-8% will be born pre-term |
| 1% of babies will die around the time of birth |
| 0.2 - 0.25% will have cerebral palsy (not often predictable) |
|
Consensus Statement The Origin of Cerebral Palsy Australian and New Zealand Perinatal Societies J.Paediatric Child Health (1995) 31: 284-288 |
For More Information
Please refer to the National Women's Health Annual Clinical Report, available at http://nationalwomenshealth.adhb.govt.nz/.
