Computerized Cardiotocography Analysis: Comparison among Several Parental Ethnic Origins

Abstract

Objective We speculate that genetic racial disparity exists in fetal life and can be detected by modern computerized cardiotocography (cCTG).

Methods This is a retrospective study comparing the results of the cCTG of pregnant patients at 37–42 weeks according to the parental ethnicity (black versus white). A cCTG was performed to analyze the variables of fetal heart rate (FHR). The cCTG variables analyzed were: percentage of signal loss; number of contractions; basal FHR; number of accelerations; number of decelerations; length of high variation episodes; short-term variability (STV); total trace duration time; and number of fetal active movements. Non-stress test (NST) parameters in the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney test for continuous data, and the Chi-square test for categorical variables.

Results We found a significantly lower number of active fetal movements (p = 0.007) and longer periods of low variation (p = 0.047) in the cCTG of black patients when compared with white patients.

Conclusions In conclusion, identifying the factors responsible for the variance in the objective analysis of CTG results is important to improve the outcomes of patients. Our study lends further evidence as to the importance of ethnicity in clinical cCTG interpretation.

Resumo

Objetivo Especulamos que disparidade genética racial exist ana vida do feto, e que possa ser detectada por moderna cardiotocografia computadorizada (cCTG).

Métodos Estudo retrospective comparando resultados do cCTG de gestantes entre 37–42 semanas de gestação de acordo com etnicidade dos pais (negro vs. brancos). cCTG foi usado para analisar as variáveis a frequência cardíaca do feto (FHR). As variáveis abalizadas do cCTG foram o % de perda de sinal, número de contrações, basal FHR, número de acelerações, número de desacelerações, comprimento dos episódios de alta variação, viabilidade de curto prazo, tempo total de duração do rastreamento, e número de movimentos de atividade fetal. Os parâmetros do teste de não estresse (NST) em dois grupos foram comparados usando o teste de Mann-Whitney para dados contínuos e teste qui-square para variáveis categóricas.

Resultados Encontramos números significativamente mais baixos de movimentos de atividade fetal (p = 0,007) e períodos mais longos de baixa variação (p = 0,047) no cCTG de pacientes negros se comparados a pacientes brancos.

Conclusões Identificar fatores responsáveis pela variação na análise objetiva dos resultados de CTG é importante em resultados de pacientes que apresentam melhora. Nosso estudo fornece evidências adicionais à importância de estudos clínicos da etnicidade interpretada pelo cCTG.

Keywords

computerized cardiotocography - ethnicity - fetal heart rate - race

Palavras-chave

cardiotocografia computadorizada - etnicidade - frequência cardíaca fetal - raça

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