Hyaline Membrane Disease: the Role of Ethnicity and Maternal Risk Characteristics

Objective: Our objective was to explore the association between maternal ethnicity and maternal antepartum complications of pregnancy, maternal sociodemographic factors, and newborn characteristics with the incidence of hyaline membrane disease.

Study Design: By using a retrospective cohort analysis the incidence of hyaline membrane disease was determined for 2295 preterm infants. The study population consisted of all live, inborn infants delivered vaginally from 1982 to 1987. Statistical differences were assessed by use of chi 2 and Student's t tests. A logistic regression procedure determined the relationship of ethnicity and hyaline membrane disease after the study was controlled for all other significant population differences.

Results: The differences between black and white populations in marital status, were statistically significant years of education, prolonged rupture of membranes, anemia, and chronic hypertension were statistically significant. Infants of black mothers were diagnosed with hyaline membrane disease less often than infants of white mothers (overall and at each gestational age interval). After the study was controlled for population differences, infants of black mothers were still found to experience hyaline membrane disease less often.

Conclusion: These data suggest that hyaline membrane disease occurs less frequently, is less severe, and is accompanied by fewer related complications in black preterm infants.