Publication:

Non-stress test as an admission test to assess the outcome in high-risk pregnancy

Background Perinatal deaths are still a significant problem in India. Therefore, there is a need for effective fetal surveillance, in order to improve the outcomes of pregnancy.

Methods This was a prospective study including fifty one females with high-risk pregnancy and 50 with low risk pregnancy. The included participants were subjected to NST done using a cardiotocograph with ultrasound transducer placed on maternal abdomen for duration of 20 min. The NST results were classified into reactive and non-reactive. Subjects were then followed up for mode of delivery and different variables of perinatal outcome.

Results Majority of study subjects were in the age group of 26-30 years (n=74; 73.3%). The period of gestation in 74 (73.3%) subjects was 37-38 weeks. Gestational diabetes mellitus was the most common risk factor in the high-risk group (n=22; 43.1%).The NST was non-reactive in 6 and 4 subjects in the high-risk and low-risk groups respectively (p=0.741). Only 3 subjects in the high-risk group had a vaginal delivery, while 33 in low-risk group did.

Conclusions We did not find any significant difference in the results of the NST between women with high and low-risk pregnancy. But this test is a promising basic screening tool in pregnancy to assess fetal well-being.