Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41361875›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Zhang's guideline vs. 1994 WHO partograph: comparative effectiveness in managing hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.

Cheng-Juan Sun, Yuanyuan Zheng, Shaofei Su, Jing Liu, Wei Song, Haili Jiang

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cheng-Juan SunDepartment of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China. sunchengjuan@mail.ccmu.edu.cn.
Yuanyuan ZhengDepartment of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China.
Shaofei SuDepartment of Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China.
Jing LiuDepartment of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China.
Wei SongDepartment of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China.
Haili JiangDepartment of Obstetrics, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 251 Yaojiayuan Road, Beijing, 100026, China.

Funding

Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University FCYY201931, FCYY201013Wu Jie-Ping Medical Foundation Research Fund 320.6755.15015
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundZhang's guideline and the 1994 WHO partograph are both used to monitor labor progress. Zhang's guideline defines labor's active phase as cervical dilation of 6 cm (vs. 4 cm in the 1994 WHO partograph) and emphasizes individualized care with extended labor observation. Conversely, the 1994 WHO partograph uses a standardized "action line" for earlier intervention. This study compared Zhang's guideline and the1994 WHO partograph in managing hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP), specifically evaluating labor interventions, maternal age disparities, and postpartum outcomes.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical data from 5806 nulliparous women with singleton full-term pregnancies who were diagnosed with HDP between 2010 and 2023. Participants were stratified into the 1994 WHO partograph (January 2010-August 2014, N = 2100) and Zhang's guideline cohorts (September 2014-December 2023, N = 3706). The primary endpoints were the intrapartum cesarean and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) rates. Secondary endpoints included the rates of labor intervention (oxytocin augmentation, artificial membrane rupture, and lateral episiotomy), forceps-assisted delivery, and neonatal asphyxia (5-min Apgar score < 7).

resultsZhang's guideline significantly reduced the intrapartum cesarean (10.96% vs.13.33%, P < 0.0001) and labor intervention rates (16.06% vs.43.62%, P < 0.0001) but increased the rates of PPH (20.02% vs.11.24%, P < 0.0001) and forceps-assisted delivery (19.67% vs.7.90%, P < 0.0001). Zhang's guideline group included a higher of advanced maternal age (AMA, ≥ 35 years) pregnancies (20.72% vs.9.24%, P < 0.0001) and assisted reproductive technology (ART) usage (6.99% vs.0.90%, P < 0.0001). The frequency of neonatal asphyxia did not differ between the groups. Multivariate analysis illustrated that the use of Zhang's guideline (odds ratio [OR] = 2.101, P < 0.0001), prolonged labor (OR = 1.607, P = 0.0052), and intrapartum cesarean section (OR = 6.024, P < 0.0001) were independent risk factors for PPH.

conclusionsCompared with the 1994 WHO partograph, Zhang's guideline for managing HDP effectively reduced intrapartum cesarean sections and labor interventions. Zhang's guideline also proved more adaptable to pregnancies involving AMA and ART without increasing the risk of neonatal asphyxia. However, its implementation was associated with higher rates of PPH and forceps delivery. Notably, the protocol itself emerged as an independent risk factor for PPH.

Indexed as

Hypertension, Pregnancy-InducedPractice Guidelines as TopicAdultCesarean SectionComparative Effectiveness ResearchDelivery, ObstetricFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornLabor Stage, FirstPostpartum HemorrhagePregnancyRetrospective Studies1994 WHO partographAdvanced maternal ageForceps-assisted deliveryHypertensive disorder of pregnancyIntrapartum cesarean sectionPostpartum hemorrhageZhang’s guideline

Identifiers

PMID41361875
PMCPMC12683807

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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.