Is Short Stature Associated with Short Cervical Length?

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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