Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39146539›Full record

ArticleObstetrics and gynecology2024

Rising Stillbirth Rates Related to Congenital Syphilis in the United States From 2016 to 2022.

Aliza Machefsky, Kaitlin Hufstetler, Laura Bachmann, Lindley Barbee, Kathryn Miele, Kevin O'Callaghan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Obstetrics and gynecology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. State-of-the-Art Review: Congenital Syphilis in the Modern Era: Current Strategies and Future Directions.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Aliza MachefskyDivision of STD Prevention, CDC Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Kaitlin Hufstetler
Laura Bachmann
Lindley Barbee
Kathryn Miele
Kevin O'Callaghan

Funding

Intramural CDC HHS CC999999
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo identify trends in stillbirth rates attributed to congenital syphilis in the United States by describing congenital syphilis-related stillbirths and comparing characteristics of pregnant people who had congenital syphilis-related stillbirths with those of people who had preterm and full-term liveborn neonates with congenital syphilis.

methodsCases of congenital syphilis reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during 2016-2022 were analyzed and categorized as stillbirth, preterm live birth (before 37 weeks of gestation), or term live birth (37 weeks or later). Cases with unknown vital status or gestational age were excluded. Frequencies were calculated by pregnancy outcome, including pregnant person demographics; receipt of prenatal care; syphilis stage and titer; and timing of prenatal care, testing, and treatment.

resultsOverall, 13,393 congenital syphilis cases with vital status and gestational age were reported; of these, 853 (6.4%) were stillbirths. The number of congenital syphilis-related stillbirths increased each year (from 44 to 231); the proportion of congenital syphilis cases resulting in stillbirth ranged from 5.2% to 7.5%. Median gestational age at delivery for stillborn fetuses was 30 weeks (interquartile range 26-33 weeks). People with congenital syphilis-related stillbirths were more likely to have titers at or above 1:32 (78.9% vs 45.5%; P <.001) and to have received no prenatal care (58.4% vs 33.1%; P <.001) than people with liveborn neonates with congenital syphilis. The risk of stillbirth was twice as high in persons with secondary syphilis compared with those with primary syphilis (11.5% vs 5.7%, risk ratio 2.00; 95% CI, 1.27-3.13). Across all congenital syphilis cases, 34.2% of people did not have a syphilis test at their first prenatal visit.

conclusionStillbirths occurred in more than 1 in 20 pregnancies complicated by congenital syphilis. Risk factors for stillbirth included high titers, secondary stage, and lack of prenatal care. If the prevalence of congenital syphilis continues to rise, there will be a corresponding increase in the overall stillbirth rate nationally.

Indexed as

Pregnancy Complications, InfectiousStillbirthSyphilis, CongenitalAdultFemaleGestational AgeHumansInfant, NewbornPregnancyPremature BirthPrenatal CareUnited StatesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39146539
PMCPMC11852402

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.