Minding the Gap Between Improved Economic Status and Increased Preterm Births: Trends of Preterm Births in A Tertiary Center in Albania

Abstract

Results: The 671 preterm births at <35 weeks’ gestation during the study period (1.6%), included 342 births at ≤32 weeks (51.0%). The cohort comprised 84 preterm twin births (38.1%), including 32 births at ≤32 weeks (9.3% of all births at these gestational weeks). The crude numbers of preterm births both significantly correlated with the year of birth and increased significantly over the years (Pearson’s R2=0.77, p-value for the slope <0.05), within a range between 22 to 92 preterm births per year. The contribution of twins to preterm deliveries neither correlated with the year of birth nor was it changed over the years (Pearson’s R2=0.01, p-value for the slope >0.05).