ROLE OF CARDIOTOCOGRAPHY AT ADMISSION IN PREDICTING PERINATAL OUTCOME IN LOW- RISK PREGNANCY: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: Admission cardiotocography (CTG) is a 20-minute monitoring tool used to assess foetal well-being at the 1 onset of labour. Its utility in predicting perinatal outcomes in low-risk pregnancies remains debated. To Objectives: evaluate the role of admission CTG in predicting maternal and perinatal outcomes in low-risk term pregnancies. A prospective Methods: observational study was conducted on 100 term, low-risk pregnant women in active labour at Dr R. N. Cooper Hospital, Mumbai. Participants 2 underwent 20-minute admission CTG and were categorized into normal, suspicious, or pathological groups per FIGO guidelines . Maternal demographics, sonographic findings, mode of delivery, APGAR scores, NICU admission, and neonatal resuscitation requirements were recorded and analysed using Chi-square test (p<0.05 considered significant). Of 100 women, 68% had normal, 12 Results: % suspicious, and 20% pathological CTG. Pathological CTG was significantly associated with maternal age >30 years (p=0.045), multigravidity (p=0.035), abnormal liquor (p=0.028), caesarean section (p<0.001), low APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes (p<0.001), NICU admission (p<0.001), and neonatal 3 resuscitation (p<0.001). Third-trimester sonographic abnormalities also correlated with pathological CTG (p=0.042). Conclusion: Admission 4 CTG may guide early intervention, its routine use in low-risk pregnancies should be approached with caution due to potential over-intervention.