Table 2

Summary estimates, by outcome and organism, from random effects meta-analysis of unadjusted ORs, for associations between genital mycoplasmas and adverse birth outcomes, and summary of multivariable and analyses that stratify the main association by BV status

Adverse outcome
Organism
Number of studiesSummary estimate*
OR (95% CI)
I2, %Prediction intervalAny multivariable analysis†Analyses of genital mycoplasmas and adverse birth outcomes in presence and absence of BV‡
Preterm birth
 M. hominis301.87 (1.49 to 2.34)29.20.98, 3.553 studies1 4859MH+,BV+/PTB OR 1.58 (95% CI 0.94 to 2.77); MH+,BV-/PTB 1.18 (0.91, 1.52)33
U. urealyticum161.96 (1.14 to 3.39)53.10.40, 9.733 studies1 41 47None reported
U. parvum131.79 (1.28 to 2.52)59.00.66, 4.852 studies1 47UP-,BV-/PTB; UP+,BV-/PTB
Adjusted 1.6 (1.2 to 2.1);
UP-,BV+/PTB aOR 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3); UP+,BV+/PTB aOR 2.6 (1.7 to 4.0)47
Premature rupture of membrane
M. hominis111.94 (1.43 to 2.70)0.01.33, 2.831 study59None reported
U. urealyticum49.87 (1.81 to 53.72)49.00.02, 5757.860 studies
U. parvum23.19 (1.25 to 8.15)0.0NC0 study
Low birth weightNone reported
M. hominis61.81 (1.29 to 2.52)0.01.12, 2.901 study34
U. urealyticum11.08 (0.08 to 14.41)NANA0 study
U. parvum0NANANA0 study
Spontaneous abortionNone reported
M. hominis100.93 (0.44 to 1.94)50.20.12, 7.140 study
U. urealyticum32.43 (1.21 to 4.86)0.00.03, 217.730 study
U. parvum21.65 (0.67 to 4.05)0.0NC0 study
Perinatal or neonatal deathNone reported
M. hominis92.70 (1.31 to 5.57)30.40.52, 13.940 study
U. urealyticum13.52 (0.14 to 87.08)NANA0 study
U. parvum12.78 (0.11 to 68.46)0 study
  • *Meta-analysis of unadjusted ORs, using random effects model.

  • †Details for individual studies reported in online supplemental tables 2.1-2.3.

  • ‡Further details of analyses based on exclusion of other infections, stratification, or multivariable analyses in online supplemental table S7.

  • .aOR, adjusted OR; BV, bacterial vaginosis; I2, heterogeneity; MH, Mycoplasma hominis; NA, not applicable; NC, could not be calculated; UP, Ureaplasma parvum; UU, Ureaplasma urealyticum.