Browsing by keyword "Birth Certificates"

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    • Role of multiple births in very low birth weight and infant mortality
      Magee, B. Dale (2004-10-01)
      OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants (g) and infant deaths attributable to multiple births in the general population and in women aged 35+. STUDY DESIGN: The year 2000 Massachusetts birth certificate database with linked births-deaths was examined. Etiologic fractions (EF) for VLBW and infant mortality attributable to multiples were calculated for the general population and the 35+ age group. The percentages of multiples occurring in the 35+ age group were calculated. Infant deaths due to congenital anomalies and "perinatal conditions" were calculated. RESULTS: There were 81,582 resident births in Massachusetts in 2000. Of them 4.3% were multiples. Of the 1090 VLBW infants, 26.1% (95% CI: 23.5-28.8) were in twins and 7.7% (95% CI: 6.2-9.5) in higher-order multiples, yielding an EF of 30.8% for multiples in VLBW. In the 35+ age group, the multiple birth ratio was 6.6% (95% CI: 6.3-7.0). The EF for multiples and VLBW in this age group was 33.7%. The 35+ age group accounted for 32.4% (95% CI: 30.8-34.0) of twins and 45.5% (95% CI: 39.1-52.0) of higher-order multiples born in 2000. Of the 392 infant deaths, 57 (14.6%; 95% CI: 11.2-18.4) were attributed to congenital anomalies, and 236 (60.2%; 95% CI: 55.2-65.0) to "perinatal conditions." Multiples were responsible for 8 (14%; 95% CI: 6.3-25.8) of deaths due to anomalies, and 73 (30.9%; 95% CI: 25.1-37.3) due to "perinatal conditions." CONCLUSION: Over 30% of VLBW infants, nearly 20% of infant mortality and >30% of infant mortality due to perinatal conditions could be attributed to multiples. Multiple pregnancy is a significant public health problem.

    • Validity of health plan and birth certificate data for pregnancy research
      Andrade, Susan E.; Scott, Pamela E.; Davis, Robert L.; Li, De-Kun; Getahun, Darios; Cheetham, T. Craig; Raebel, Marsha A.; Toh, Sengwee; Dublin, Sascha; Pawloski, Pamala; et al. (2013-01-01)
      PURPOSE: To evaluate the validity of health plan and birth certificate data for pregnancy research. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using administrative and claims data from 11 U.S. health plans and corresponding birth certificate data from state health departments. Diagnoses, drug dispensings, and procedure codes were used to identify infant outcomes (cardiac defects, anencephaly, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] admission) and maternal diagnoses (asthma and systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]) recorded in the health plan data for live born deliveries between January 2001 and December 2007. A random sample of medical charts (n = 802) was abstracted for infants and mothers identified with the specified outcomes. Information on newborn, maternal, and paternal characteristics (gestational age at birth, birth weight, previous pregnancies and live births, race/ethnicity) was also abstracted and compared to birth certificate data. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were calculated with documentation in the medical chart serving as the gold standard. RESULTS: PPVs were 71% for cardiac defects, 37% for anencephaly, 87% for preterm birth, and 92% for NICU admission. PPVs for algorithms to identify maternal diagnoses of asthma and SLE were >/= 93%. Our findings indicated considerable agreement (PPVs > 90%) between birth certificate and medical record data for measures related to birth weight, gestational age, prior obstetrical history, and race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Health plan and birth certificate data can be useful to accurately identify some infant outcomes, maternal diagnoses, and newborn, maternal, and paternal characteristics. Other outcomes and variables may require medical record review for validation.