Original article
Perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with chlamydial infection: a meta-analysis study

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1413-8670(11)70247-1Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of Chlamydia trachomatis infection during pregnancy on perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Methods

Systematic review and meta-analysis in an electronic database and manual, combining high sensitivity specific descriptors seeking to answer the research objective. The articles considered to be of high methodological quality (score above 6 on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) were assessed by meta-analysis.

Results

Summary estimates of 12 studies were calculated by means of Mantel-Haenszel test with 95% confidence interval. It was observed that Chlamydia infection during pregnancy increased risk of preterm labor (relative risk (RR) = 1.35 [1.11, 1.63]), low birth weight (RR = 1.52 [1.24, 1.87]) and perinatal mortality (RR = 1.84 [1.15, 2.94]). No evidence of increased risk was associated with Chlamydia infection in regard to premature rupture of membranes (RR = 1.13 [0.95, 1.34]), abortion and postpartum endometritis (RR = 1.20 [0.65, 2.20] and 0.89 [0.49, 1.61] respectively).

Conclusion

The diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia cervicitis during pregnancy can reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with this infection. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords

Chlamydia trachomatis
perinatal mortality
morbidity
meta-analysis

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