Effect of Maternal Race and Ethnicity on Cervical Length and Preterm Delivery

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort analysis of patient’s identified with a short cervix (<2.5cm) at the time of their anatomic survey ultrasound between 16-24 weeks gestation. Patient’s demographic data including their race and ethnicity were collected in addition to cervical lengths throughout pregnancy and gestational age at delivery. Short cervical lengths and gestational age at delivery were compared between racial groups. Results: 351 patients were identified with short cervixes (<2.5cm) in our study. Among those identified with a short cervix, there was no statistical significance between short cervical lengths of White (p=0.66, 95% CI = -0.23-0.10), African American (p=0.46, 95% CI= -0.51-0.17), and Hispanic patients (p=0.74, 95% CI=-0.46-0.24). No statistically significant difference was identified between gestational age at delivery between White, African American, and Hispanic patients (p=0.36). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference between odds of delivery <37, <34, and <28 weeks between our racial groups or CL <2.0, <1.5, and <1.0cm between our racial groups (Table 1). Conclusions: Maternal race and ethnicity are not associated with degree of cervical length shortening or gestational age at delivery among patients identified with a short cervix on mid-trimester ultrasound.