A total of 4 RCTs were used to assess the outcomes (11,375 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess antenatal admission to hospital (9,359 women).
2 RCTs were used to assess CTG performed after inclusion (6,373 women).
2 RCTs were used to assess echocardiography performed after inclusion (6,373 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess delivery < 37 weeks (9,359 women).
4 RCTs were used to assess elective section or induction of labour (11,375 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess foetal distress during labour (9,359 women).
2 RCTs were used to assess Caesarean section during labour (6,734 women).
2 RCTs were used to assess low Apgar score at 1 min (6,734 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess low Apgar score at 5 min (11,375 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess ventilatory support (9,359 women).
4 RCTs were used to assess admission to neonatal unit (11,375 women).
4 RCTs were used to assess perinatal deaths (11,375 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess perinatal deaths normally formed (9,351 women).
3 RCTs were used to assess stillbirths normally formed (9,359 women).
The authors considered the trials to be of good methodological quality.
The OR was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.60) for overall perinatal deaths, 1.28 (95% CI: 0.61, 2.67) for the unselected population and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.20, 1.29) fo the low-risk population. The chi-squared test for heterogeneity was significantly different from zero (p=0.03).
Antenatal admission to hospital: the OR was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.15).
CTG performed after inclusion: the OR was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11).
Echocardiography performed after inclusion: the OR was 1.16 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.38).
Delivery < 37 weeks: the OR was 1.09 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.34).
Elective section or induction of labour: the OR was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.12).
Foetal distress during labour: the OR was 1.05 (95% CI: 0.85, 1.30).
Caesarean section during labour: the OR was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.14).
Low Apgar score at 1 minute: the OR was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.78, 1.18).
Low Apgar score at 5 minutes: the OR was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.17).
Ventilatory support: the OR was 1.00 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.21).
Admission to neonatal unit: the OR was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.92, 1.22).
Perinatal deaths normally formed: the OR was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.49, 2.20).
Stillbirths normally formed: the OR was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.42, 1.98).