TITLE:
The association of fFN testing on hospital admissions for preterm labor
AUTHORS:
Shilpa Iyer, Thomas McElrath, Petr Jarolim, James Greenberg
KEYWORDS:
Preterm Labor; Fetal Fibronectin; Cost
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.3 No.1,
January
28,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine if the use of fetal fibronectin (fFN) testing has affected hospital admissions for preterm labor. Methods: ICD-9 and CPT codes from all admissions to Brigham & Women’s Hospital between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2010 were evaluated. Data recorded included total deliveries, admissions for preterm labor (PTL) without delivery, length of stay (days) for PTL admissions, preterm deliveries, and number of fFN tests performed. The data was evaluated using a Wilcoxon test of trend and least squares regression. Results: Fetal fibronectin testing was introduced mid-year 2001. As a percentage of total deliveries, the number of admissions for PTL without delivery decreased from 3.97% in 1995 to 2.16% in 2010 (p