Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/113738
Title: Validity of a minimally invasive autopsy for cause of death determination in stillborn babies and neonates in Mozambique: an observational study
Author: Menéndez, Clara
Castillo, Paola
Martínez Yoldi, Miguel Julián
Jordão, Dercio
Lovane, Lucilia
Ismail, Mamudo Rafik
Carrilho, Carla
Lorenzoni, Cesaltina
Fernandes, Fabiola
Nhampossa, Tacilta
Hurtado, Juan Carlos
Navarro, Mireia
Casas, Isaac
Santos Ritchie, Paula
Bandeira, Sónia
Mocumbi, Sibone
Jaze, Zara
Mabota, Flora
Munguambe, Khátia
Maixenchs, Maria
Sanz, Ariadna
Mandomando, Inácio
Nadal Serra, Alfons
Goncé Mellgren, Anna
Muñoz-Almagro, Carmen
Quintó, Llorenç
Vila Estapé, Jordi
Macete, Eusebio Víctor
Alonso, Pedro
Ordi i Majà, Jaume
Bassat Orellana, Quique
Keywords: Autòpsia
Diagnòstic
Malalties infeccioses
Moçambic
Autopsy
Diagnosis
Communicable diseases
Mozambique
Issue Date: 2017
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Abstract: Background Over 5 million stillbirths and neonatal deaths occur annually. Limited and imprecise information on the cause of these deaths hampers progress in achieving global health targets. Complete diagnostic autopsies (CDAs) the gold standard for cause of death determination are difficult to perform in most high-burden settings. Therefore, validation of simpler and more feasible methods is needed. Methods and findings In this observational study, the validity of a minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) method in determining the cause of death was assessed in 18 stillbirths and 41 neonatal deaths by comparing the results of the MIA with those of the CDA. Concordance between the categories of diseases obtained by the 2 methods was assessed by the Kappa statistic, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the MIA diagnoses were calculated. A cause of death was identified in 16/18 (89%) and 15/18 (83%) stillborn babies in the CDA and the MIA, respectively. Fetal growth restriction accounted for 39%, infectious diseases for 22%, intrapartum hypoxia for 17%, and intrauterine hypoxia for 11% of stillborn babies. Overall, the MIA showed in this group a substantial concordance with the CDA (Kappa = 0.78, 95% CI [0.56-0.99]). A cause of death was identified in all (100%) and 35/41 (85%) neonatal deaths in the CDA and the MIA, respectively. In this group, the majority of deaths were due to infectious diseases (66%). The overall concordance of the MIA with the CDA in neonates was moderate (Kappa = 0.40, 95% CI [0.18-0.63]). A high percentage of accuracy was observed for the MIA in all the diagnostic categories in both stillbirths and neonates (>75%). The main limitation of this study is that some degree of subjective interpretation is inherent to cause-of-death attribution in both the MIA and the CDA; this is especially so in stillbirths and in relation to fetal growth restriction. Conclusions The MIA could be a useful tool for cause-of-death determination in stillbirths and neonatal deaths. These findings may help to accelerate progress towards meeting global health targets by obtaining more accurate information on the causes of death in these age groups, which is essential in guiding the design of new interventions and increasing the effectiveness of those already implemented.
Note: Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002318
It is part of: PLoS Medicine, 2017, vol. 14, num. 6, p. e1002318
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/113738
Related resource: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002318
ISSN: 1549-1277
Appears in Collections:Articles publicats en revistes (Fonaments Clínics)
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

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