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The rate of stillbirth in high-income countries has stabilized at 1 per 200 pregnant women who reach 22 weeks' gestation. To examine risk factors for stillbirth in high-income countries, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of studies in which at least one risk factor was assessed and stillbirth was defined as death after ≥20 weeks' gestation or birth weight ≥400 g. Of 22,691 identified studies, 96 from 13 countries (29 from the U.S.) met inclusion criteria (6 prospective and 70 retrospective cohort studies and 20 case-control studies). Most studies excluded women with multiple pregnancies and stillbirths with congenital abnormalities.
The most critical and potentially modifiable risk factors for stillbirth were maternal weight, smoking, ag…