Association between preterm delivery and the risk of maternal renal disease: A systematic review and meta‑analysis

The present systematic review and meta‑analysis aimed to generate high‑quality evidence on the association between preterm delivery (PTD) and subsequent risk of renal disease in the mother. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and Scopus until the 15th of May 2023 for studies reporting an adjusted association between PTD and the risk of maternal renal disease. A total of seven studies were eligible. The pooled analysis found that women with PTD had a statistically significant increased risk of chronic kidney disease in the long term [hazard ratio (HR): 1.82 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.38, 2.40; I²=85%]. Similarly, the meta‑analysis also found a statistically significant increased risk of end‑stage renal disease (ESRD) amongst women with PTD as compared with those without PTD (HR: 2.22 95% CI: 1.95, 2.53; I²=0%). Overall, the pooled analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of renal disorders with PTD (HR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.57, 2.50; I²=88%). The results were unchanged on sensitivity analysis. Women with PTD could be at increased risk of future chronic kidney disease and ESRD. The small number of studies and retrospective nature of data are important limitations. Further studies are needed to supplement the available evidence.