{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,6]],"date-time":"2026-06-06T07:24:04Z","timestamp":1780730644064,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Walter de Gruyter GmbH","issue":"9","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,25]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2021-0020_abs_001\">\n                  <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Preterm birth clinics provide dedicated obstetric care to women at\u00a0high risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). There remains a lack of conclusive evidence to support the overall utility of such clinics, attributable to a paucity and heterogeneity of primary data. This study audits Australia\u2019s largest and oldest dedicated preterm birth clinic with the aim to add primary data to the area and offer opportunities for similar clinics to align practice.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2021-0020_abs_002\">\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>A retrospective audit of referrals to the Preterm Labour Clinic at the Royal Women\u2019s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, between 2004 and 2018 was conducted. 1,405 singleton pregnancies met inclusion criteria. The clinic\u2019s key outcomes, demographics, predictive tests and interventions were analysed. The primary outcomes were SPTB before 37, 34 and 30\u00a0weeks\u2019 gestation.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2021-0020_abs_003\">\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The overall incidence of SPTB in the clinic was 21.2% (n=294). Linear regression showed reductions in the adjusted rates of overall SPTB and pre-viable SPTB (delivery &lt;24\u00a0weeks) from 2004 (108%; 8%) to 2018 (65%; 2% respectively). Neonatal morbidity and post-delivery intensive care admission concurrently declined (p=0.02; 0.006 respectively). Rates of short cervix (cervical length &lt;25\u00a0mm) increased over time (2018: 30.9%) with greater uptake of vaginal progesterone for treatment. Fetal fibronectin, mid-trimester short cervix, and serum alkaline phosphatase were associated with SPTB on logistic regression.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec id=\"j_jpm-2021-0020_abs_004\">\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Dedicated preterm birth clinics can reduce rates of SPTB, particularly deliveries before 24\u00a0weeks\u2019 gestation, and improve short-term neonatal outcomes in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1515\/jpm-2021-0020","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,21]],"date-time":"2021-05-21T00:42:41Z","timestamp":1621557761000},"page":"1048-1057","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["The contemporary value of dedicated preterm birth clinics for high-risk singleton pregnancies: 15-year outcomes from a leading maternal centre"],"prefix":"10.1515","volume":"49","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7957-8830","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wallace","family":"Jin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"},{"name":"Pregnancy Research Centre , The Royal Women\u2019s Hospital , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kelly","family":"Hughes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"},{"name":"Pregnancy Research Centre , The Royal Women\u2019s Hospital , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shirlene","family":"Sim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Scott","family":"Shemer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"},{"name":"Pregnancy Research Centre , The Royal Women\u2019s Hospital , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Penelope","family":"Sheehan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"},{"name":"Pregnancy Research Centre , The Royal Women\u2019s Hospital , Melbourne , VIC , Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"374","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"2023033122435008686_j_jpm-2021-0020_ref_001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, L, Oza, S, Hogan, D. 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