ABSTRACT
We sought to estimate if there is a correlation between maternal height and cervical
length in women at high risk for preterm birth. We studied a retrospective cohort
of women with singleton gestation and risk factors for preterm birth. Maternal height
was categorized as short (<157.5 cm) or not short stature (≥157.5 cm). Cervical length
at 14 to 24 weeks was evaluated. Primary outcomes were incidence of initial cervical
length <30 mm and incidence of shortest cervical length <25 mm. Four hundred sixteen
women met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two (22.6%) of the short women and 79 (24.5%)
of the nonshort women had an initial cervical length <30 mm (p = 0.81). Twenty-two (23.7%) of the short women and 104 (32.2%) of the nonshort women
had a cervical length <25 mm for shortest cervical length measurement (p = 0.15). In women with singleton gestation and risk factors for preterm birth, no
statistically significant relationship exists between maternal height and initial
or shortest cervical length.
KEYWORDS
Cervical length - preterm birth - short stature
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Timothy J RafaelM.D.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, Benjamin Franklin Building
834 Chestnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Email: timothyrafael@hotmail.com