The role of race/ethnicity in cerclage efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the impact of race/ethnicity on cerclage efficacy, as measured by the prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), in a cohort of patients with history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclages.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclage placement from January 2003 to July 2013 at a tertiary care hospital. Patients' race/ethnicity was self-declared. Our primary outcome was spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) < 37 weeks. Subgroup analyses were performed for each of the three indications for cerclage.


RESULTS
One hundred and eighty-one subjects met inclusion criteria. Forty-seven percent self-identified as non-Hispanic black (NHB), 12% as Hispanic and 41% as non-Hispanic white (NHW). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of SPTB < 37 weeks between the three race/ethnicity groups (33% versus 19% versus 40%, respectively, p = 0.22), nor for SPTB less than 34 or 28 weeks. Finally, there was no difference in SPTB prevalence by race after controlling for smoking, history of CKC/LEEP, and 17-OHPC with logistic regression.


CONCLUSION
Race/ethnicity does not appear to be associated with cerclage efficacy, as measured by the risk of SPTB, in a cohort of patients with history-indicated, ultrasound-indicated and physical-exam indicated cerclages.
['Fryer|Kimberly|K|', 'Keiser|Sharon|S|', 'Trofatter|Kenneth|K|', 'Eichelberger|Kacey Y|KY|', 'Heberlein|Emily|E|']
D000328:Adult D001741:African Americans D023802:Cerclage, Cervical D005260:Female D006630:Hispanic or Latino D006801:Humans D011247:Pregnancy D047928:Premature Birth D012189:Retrospective Studies D013022:South Carolina D044465:Whites D055815:Young Adult
race/ethnicity cerclage Preterm birth disparities