The effect of nuchal cord on perinatal mortality and long-term offspring morbidity

Objective: To evaluate perinatal and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory morbidities of children born with nuchal cord. Study design: A large population-based cohort analysis of singleton deliveries was conducted. Maternal and birth characteristics, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity incidence were evaluated. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to compare cumulative hospitalization incidence between groups. Cox regression models were used to control for possible confounders and follow-up length. Results: 243,682 deliveries were included. Of them, 34,332 (14.1%) were diagnosed with nuchal cord. Perinatal mortality rate was comparable between groups (0.5 vs. 0.6%, p = 0.16). Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated no significant differences in cumulative cardiovascular or respiratory morbidity incidence between groups (log rank p = 0.69 and p = 0.10, respectively). Cox regression models reaffirmed a comparable risk for hospitalization between groups (aHR = 0.99 (95% CI 0.85–1.14, p = 0.87) and aHR = 0.97 (95% CI 0.92–1.02, p = 0.28). Conclusions: Nuchal cord is not associated with higher rate of perinatal mortality nor long-term cardiorespiratory morbidity.