Mode of delivery for term breech fetuses and long-term pediatric respiratory morbidity of the offspring

We set out to compare the long-term respiratory morbidity offspring born via cesarean delivery due to breech presentation to those delivered vaginally. A population-based cohort analysis including all singleton breech deliveries between the years 1991-2014, comparing long-term respiratory morbidity of offspring born in breech presentation, according to mode of delivery. Offspring with congenital malformations, perinatal deaths and instrumental deliveries were excluded. Respiratory morbidity included hospitalizations (up to age 18 years), as recorded in hospital records. A Kaplan Meier survival curve compared cumulative respiratory morbidity. A Weibull parametric survival model controlled for confounders and repeat deliveries. 7,337 breech deliveries were included; 6,376 (86.9%) cesarean deliveries and 961 (13.1%) vaginal breech deliveries. The Kaplan Meier survival curve demonstrated higher cumulative incidence of respiratory morbidity in the cesarean delivery group, as compared with vaginal delivery (log rank test p=0.006). Utilizing a Weibull parametric survival model to control for confounders, cesarean delivery was found to be an independent risk factor for long-term respiratory morbidity of the offspring (adjusted HR 1.79, 95%CI 1.27-2.53, p=0.001). Cesarean versus vaginal delivery for breech presentation is an independent risk factor for long-term pediatric respiratory morbidity of the offspring.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)