Low FEV1% Predicted is a Significant Predictor of Fetal Death
The rate of fetal death was higher in participants with FEV1% predicted < 65 compared to those with FEV1% predicted ≥ 65 (30.0% versus 4.3%,p= 0.01) with an overall prevalence of 6.8% (7 of 103) (Table 2). In a multivariable penalized regression model, FEV1% predicted < 65 was associated with a nearly 8-fold increased risk of fetal death (OR 7.81, 95% CI [1.59–38.38], p = .011) (Table 3). Phenotype (HbSS) (3.41 [0.68–17.19], p=0.13) and low maternal BMI (1.00 [0.84–1.20], p=0.95) were not associated with fetal death.
The preterm delivery rate of 30.1% in pregnant women with SCD was high, as compared with the rates expected in the general population (10%). A non- statistically significant difference in the preterm delivery rate occurred between the FEV1% predicted <65 group compared to the FEV1% predicted ≥ 65 group (50.0% versus 28.0%, respectively; p = .163). The difference in the rates of IUGR, LBW, and VLBW between the FEV1% predicted ≥ 65 group and the FEV1% predicted < 65 group were also not statistically significant. (Table 2)