Gestational age-specific perinatal mortality rates for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and other births

© The Author 2017. STUDY QUESTION: Is perinatal mortality rate higher among births born following assisted reproductive technology (ART) compared to non-ART births? SUMMARY ANSWER: Overall perinatal mortality rates in ART births was higher compared to non-ART births, but gestational age-specific perinatal mortality rate of ART births was lower for very preterm and moderate to late preterm births. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Births born following ART are reported to have higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared to non-ART births. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This population-based retrospective cohort study included 407 368 babies (391 952 non-ART and 15 416 ART)—393 491 singletons and 10 877 twins or high order multiples. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All births (≥20 weeks of gestation and/or ≥400 g of birthweight) in five states and territories in Australia during the period 2007–2009 were included in the study, using National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC). Primary outcome measures were rates of stillbirth, neonatal and perinatal deaths. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the likelihood of perinatal death. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Rates of multiple birth and low birthweight were significantly higher in ART group compared to the non-ART group (P < 0.01). Overall perinatal mortality rate was significantly higher for ART births (16.5 per 1000 births, 95% CI 14.5–18.6), compared to non-ART births (11.3 per 1000 births, 95% CI 11.0–11.6) (AOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.26–1.68). However, gestational age-specific perinatal mortality rate of ART births (including both singletons and multiples) was lower for very preterm (