Analysis of the fetal mortality in the University Hospital The Faith: comparative study 1996-2000 opposite to 2001-2005

Objective: To evaluate fetal deaths in the last 10 years by comparing two time periods and to analyze possible causes and variations of fetal mortality. Material and methods: We examined the fetal death rate between 1996 and 2005. Two groups were compared: group A included fetal deaths occurring in the period 1996-2000 and group B comprised those occurring in the period 2001-2005. Maternal, delivery and fetal characteristics were analyzed. Results: The fetal death rate at our hospital was 6.25 per 1000 births. Fetal death mainly occurred in Spanish mothers aged between 20 and 35 years old. Birth weight was between 500 and 1000 g in 53.4% of deaths and gestational age was less than 28 weeks in 32.5%. Mortality was higher in multiple pregnancies than in single pregnancies. Comparison of the two groups showed no significant differences in fetal death rate but a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) was found in patients aged less than 20 years old (1.2% vs. 6.9%) and foreigners (4.7% vs. 15.5%). There was a nonsignificant increase in fetal mortality in assisted reproductive pregnancies (5.8% vs. 9.2%). The cause of death was unexplained in 20.3% of fetal deaths. The most frequent causes registered were funicular abnormalities (13.3%), chorioamnionitis (8.7%), premature rupture of fetal membranes (8.4%), and abruptio (6.7%). Conclusion: The fetal death rate did not decrease during the periods studied and increased among young women and foreigners.