scholarly journals Risk stratification for intestinal dysbiosis in hospitalized adult patients according to the National Dysbiosis Survey (INDIS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (35) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
Aline Okipney ◽  
Jéssica Romanelli Amorim de Souza ◽  
Antonio Carlos Ligocki Campos ◽  
Leticia Fuganti Campos ◽  
Paula Rodrigues Anjo ◽  
...  

Introduction: The intestinal microbiota has a symbiotic relationship with the human being. Its alteration, known as dysbiosis, can result in several diseases. Some risk factors may predict the occurrence of this condition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Dysbiosis Survey (INDIS) in the risk stratification of hospitalized adult patients that presented with intestinal dysbiosis. Methods: 100 patients hospitalized at the Hospital das Clínicas da UFPR were interviewed through INDIS. In this questionnaire, risk factors for dysbiosis of each patient were established and the dysbiosis degree was stratified in low, medium, high, and very high risk. Results: Most patients were classified as medium (43%) and high risk (39%) of dysbiosis. The univariate analysis revealed an association between the degree of dysbiosis and elderly patients (p=0.034), number of comorbidities (p<0.001), presence of diarrhea or constipation (p<0.001) and medication in use [antibiotic and/or proton pump inhibitor (PII); p<0.001]. In the multivariate analysis, the most important influence in classification was the presence of diarrhea or constipation (OR=3.00, 95% CI [1.73, 5.21] p<0.001) and medication in use (Score 3: OR = 53.4, 95% CI [2.73, 1045.5], p=0.009 and Score 4-8: OR = 1709.1, 95% CI [50.27, 58103.5] p<0.001), both independent predictors of high and very high risk of dysbiosis. Conclusion: The risk degree of intestinal dysbiosis is greater in the presence of diarrhea or constipation, the use of antibiotics and/or PII, and in elderly patients. Once the risks of dysbiosis have been defined, INDIS proved to be an effective and rapid tool for risk stratification of dysbiosis in the study population, future studies should determine the relevance of therapeutic interventions with the purpose of normalizing the intestinal flora.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1966-1966
Author(s):  
Renate Arnold ◽  
Dietrich Beelen ◽  
Martin Bornhaeuser ◽  
Donald Bunjes ◽  
Juergen Finke ◽  
...  

Abstract In the German Multicenter ALL studies (GMALL) patients aged &gt;55 years with high risk (B-lineage ALL with WBC at diagnosis &gt;30000, late CR, t (4; 11), complex aberrant karyotype or prae-T or mature T-ALL) or very high risk (Ph+/BCR-ABL+) ALL are increasingly candidates for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic SCT with a HLA identical sibling donor, MRD or a matched unrelated donor, MUD) or autologous SCT. Here, we report on 31 elderly patients transplanted within the GMALL studies 06/99 and 07/03. Median age of the patients was 61 years (56–65). 22 patients belonged to the very high risk group (VHR), 8 patients to the high risk group (HR) and 1 patient from the standard risk group (SR) was transplanted because of detection of minimal residual disease.17/31 patients were transplanted from a matched unrelated donor, 9/31 patients from a HLA identical sibling donor and 5/31 patients underwent autologous SCT. Conditioning regimens for MRD SCT were myeloablative (MAC) in 6 patients (TBI 12 Gy and chemotherapy n=2, radioimmunotherapy + chemotherapy n=2, chemotherapy only n=2) and 3 patients received reduced intensity conditioning (RIC).Conditioning regimens for MUD SCT changed over time with an increasing number of RIC in the study 07/03. In total, 7/17 patients received MAC (TBI 12 Gy and chemotherapy n=5, chemotherapy only n=2) and 10/17 patients received RIC. Conditioning regimens in autologous SCT were myeloablative (MAC) in 5/5 patients. Results: After allogeneic MRD SCT 4/9 patients (44%) are alive in CCR (d+ 24, d+ 611, d+ 1721, d+ 2321), 3/9 patients died due to leukemia, 2/9 due to transplant related mortality (TRM). After allogeneic MUD SCT 8/17 patients (46%) are alive in CCR (from d+ 165 to d+ 2176). 1 further patient is alive after re- SCT for treatment of relapse. 7/17 patients died due to TRM and 1 patient died due to relapse. After autologous SCT 2/5 patients are alive in CCR (d+ 1703, d+ 1731), 3/5 died due to relapse. Risk factors for TRM: In allo SCT and MAC 8/13 patients died due to TRM in contrast to 1/13 patients with RIC. In auto SCT none of the patients died due to TRM. Risk factors for relapse: In allogeneic MRD SCT 3/9 patients died due to relapse and 2/17 patients relapsed after MUD SCT. Due to the small number of patients, no difference between MAC and RIC could be found. In autologous SCT 3/5 patients died due to relapse. In conclusion: The study shows that allo MRD but also MUD SCT is very effective in a selected population of elderly ALL patients. Since the survival of elderly patients with chemotherapy only is about 25%, more patients should be encouraged to have a MRD or MUD SCT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8045-8045
Author(s):  
Ralf Ulrich Trappe ◽  
Christian Koenecke ◽  
Martin H. Dreyling ◽  
Christiane Pott ◽  
Ulrich Duehrsen ◽  
...  

8045 Background: The PTLD-1 trials have established risk-stratified sequential treatment of B-cell PTLD. After rituximab induction, patients (pts) in complete remission (25 %) received rituximab consolidation, while all others received R-CHOP. The PTLD-2 trial tests modified risk-stratification including clinical risk factors. These are the results of the 2nd scheduled interim analysis (40/60 planned pts). Methods: The prospective, multicenter phase II PTLD-2 trial (NCT02042391) enrols treatment-naïve adult SOT recipients with CD20-positive PTLD. Key exclusion criteria are CNS involvement, ECOG > 2, pregnancy, and severe organ dysfunction or severe, active infection. Treatment consists of rituximab (1400 mg SC; first application 375 mg/m2 IV) on days 1, 8, 15 and 22. After restaging, pts in CR as well as those in PR with ≤ 2 IPI risk factors at diagnosis (low-risk group) continue with four three-weekly courses of rituximab. Most other pts (high-risk group) receive 4 cycles of R-CHOP-21, while thoracic SOT recipients who progress under rituximab (very-high-risk group) receive six cycles of alternating R-CHOP-21 and R-DHAOx. The primary endpoint (event-free survival in the low-risk group) is not analyzed here. Secondary endpoints presented here are response and overall response (ORR) by computed tomography, overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP) and treatment-related mortality (TRM) overall and by risk group. Results: 40 pts were recruited at 12 centers (2015 – 2019). 21/40 were kidney, 11 lung, 4 liver, 3 heart, and 1 liver/kidney transplant recipients. Median age was 54 years. 38/40 PTLD were monomorphic and 15/40 EBV-associated. 38 pts were evaluated for response at interim staging: 13 were allocated to the low-risk, 17 to the high-risk and 8 to the very-high-risk group. ORR was 28/30 (93 %, CR: 16/30 [53 %]). With a median follow-up of 1.9 years, the 1-year/3-year Kaplan-Meier (KM) estimates of TTP and OS in the intention-to-treat population (40 pts) were 85 %/80 % and 70 %/70 %, respectively. In the low-risk group, the 2-year KM estimate of OS was 100 %. The frequency of infections (all grades) was 50 %, and TRM occurred in 3/40 pts (8 %). Conclusions: One third of enrolled pts were treated in the low-risk group and the recruitment goal for evaluation of the primary endpoint will likely be reached. Interim efficacy and toxicity data with rituximab SC and modified risk-stratification are encouraging despite the inclusion of 35 % thoracic SOT recipients. Clinical trial information: NCT02042391 .


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8000-8000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus San Miguel ◽  
Maria-Victoria Mateos ◽  
Veronica Gonzalez ◽  
Meletios A. Dimopoulos ◽  
Efstathios Kastritis ◽  
...  

8000 Background: The diagnostic criteria for MM were revised in 2014, recategorizing ultra-high risk (i.e., 80% at two years) as active myeloma requiring therapy. The removal of patients at the highest risk of progression from the smoldering group requires reassessment of current risk stratification models. Methods: We designed a multicenter, retrospective study of SMM patients to develop a risk stratification model. Patients diagnosed with SMM on/after January 1, 2004 were included if they had no disease progression within 6 months, had baseline data from diagnosis (+/- 3 months), had a follow up of ≥1 year, and did not participate in a therapeutic trial of SMM. Various clinical and laboratory factors were explored to identify factors that predicted progression at 2 years. Univariate Cox regressions were run for each factor. For factors with p-values ≤ 0.25, optimal cut points were identified using Youden’s index. Binary factors were used in stepwise regression to fit multivariable Cox model and significant risk factors were determined (F-test). Results: Overall, 2004 patients were included (ages 26-93, 51% female). Factors independently associated with progression (optimal cutoffs) included: Serum M protein (2 g/dL), involved to uninvolved serum-free light chain ratio (20), and marrow plasma cell % (20%). Patients were stratified using the risk factors: Low- (0 factors), Intermediate- (1), and High-Risk (≥2). Previously used high risk markers such as Bence Jones proteinuria (≥500 mg/24 hours) and severe immunoparesis (50% decrease in uninvolved immunoglobulin levels) were both significant in univariate analysis, but were eliminated on step wise selection. Compared to the low risk group, intermediate- and high-risk groups had significantly higher rate of progression (Table). Within the high-risk group, having all 3 risk factors (n=61) versus 2 did not add to the model, with insufficient separation between 2 and 3 factors. Conclusions: We have developed a risk stratification model for SMM that incorporates revised cutoffs for previously used parameters (20/2/20) that can be universally applied. Additonal analysis are being conducted to develop models that utilize common cytogenetic abnormalities, as well as those without FLC given lack of availability of all tests across the world. [Table: see text]


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 12-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Gökbuget ◽  
Renate Arnold ◽  
Angelika Böhme ◽  
Rainer Fietkau ◽  
Mathias Freund ◽  
...  

Abstract In 2003 the German Multicenter ALL Study Group (GMALL) initiated the trial GMALL 07/2003. Major aims were improvement of outcome by shortened, intensified induction, intensified consolidation, risk adapted and extended SCT indication and minimal residual disease (MRD) based treatment stratification. 8drug-induction was followed by uniform 1st consolidation based on HDARAC and HDMTX. Further treatment was stratified according to the following risk factors (RF): WBC > 30.000 in B-prec. ALL, late CR (>3wks), proB-, earlyT and mature T-ALL, Ph/BCR-ABL and t(4;11)/ALL1-AF4. The risk groups were defined as follows: standard risk (SR, no RF), high risk (HR,>= 1RF) and very high risk (VHR,Ph/BCR-ABL). HR and VHR pts were scheduled for SCT in CR1 with the following priorities: allo sibling, allo matched unrelated and autologous. VHR pts mostly received Imatinib according to different schedules. SR pts received 5 consolidation cycles (HDMTX/ASPx3, VP16/ARAC, CYCLO/ARAC) and reinduction. SR pts with high MRD after consolidation I were allocated to SCT. In the remaining SR pts decision on maintenance therapy was based on MRD. Between 04/03-12/06 713 evaluable (15–55 yrs) pts were included. The median age was 34 yrs. The CR rate after induction was 89% with 5% early death and 6% failure. 50%, 33% and 17% were allocated to SR (N=353), HR (N=235) and VHR (N=117) with similar CR rates of 92%, 88% and 85%. CR rate was not different in pts < vs > 35 yrs (90% vs 89%). 5 year overall survival (OS) was 54% and survival of CR (S-CR) pts was 59%. HR and VHR pts obtained 55% and 49% S-CR at 3 yrs resp. HR subgroups showed different S-CR for early T (58%), mature T (70%), pro B (66%) and other B-lineage ALL (37%). 68% and 71% of HR and VHR pts received SCT in CR1 as scheduled which thus contributed substantially to improved outcome. In SR- ALL S-CR was 69% (68% c/preB, 66% thymicT). The CCR probability was 52% at 3 yrs. CNS prophylaxis was very effective since only 2% of the CR pts had CNS involvement at relapse. Univariate analysis confirmed a significant prognostic impact of immunphenotype, WBC in B-lin ALL, time to CR and Ph/BCR-ABL. WBC was no prognostic factor in T-lin-ALL. Age was highly significant for survival with 64% survival < 35 yrs vs 48% above 35 yrs. In adolescents below 25 years the most favourable survival of 67% was achieved. In standard risk pts below 35 yrs the survival was 73% without SCT in CR1. Overall the study yielded improved CR rates (89%) and survival (54%). Risk adapted SCT indication was feasible (realised in 70% of HR/VHR pts) and lead to improved survival particularly in early/mature T-ALL and pro B-ALL. In standard risk (SR) the survival is favourable, even above 70% in young pts; however, the relapse rate is still high. Further intensification of therapy during the first year seems required. By definition of new risk factors additional SR patients could be allocated to SCT in CR1. There is however no intention to transfer all SR patients to SCT. Future improvement will be attempted by further inclusion of subtype specific and targeted therapies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Chamat-Hedemand ◽  
Niels Eske Bruun ◽  
Lauge Østergaard ◽  
Magnus Arpi ◽  
Emil Fosbøl ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is diagnosed in 7–8% of streptococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs), yet it is unclear when to perform transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) according to different streptococcal species. The aim of this sub-study was to propose a flowchart for the use of echocardiography in streptococcal BSIs. Methods In a population-based setup, we investigated all patients admitted with streptococcal BSIs and crosslinked data with nationwide registries to identify comorbidities and concomitant hospitalization with IE. Streptococcal species were divided in four groups based on the crude risk of being diagnosed with IE (low-risk < 3%, moderate-risk 3–10%, high-risk 10–30% and very high-risk > 30%). Based on number of positive blood culture (BC) bottles and IE risk factors (prosthetic valve, previous IE, native valve disease, and cardiac device), we further stratified cases according to probability of concomitant IE diagnosis to create a flowchart suggesting TTE plus TOE (IE > 10%), TTE (IE 3–10%), or “wait & see” (IE < 3%). Results We included 6393 cases with streptococcal BSIs (mean age 68.1 years [SD 16.2], 52.8% men). BSIs with low-risk streptococci (S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S. intermedius) are not initially recommended echocardiography, unless they have ≥3 positive BC bottles and an IE risk factor. Moderate-risk streptococci (S. agalactiae, S. anginosus, S. constellatus, S. dysgalactiae, S. salivarius, S. thermophilus) are guided to “wait & see” strategy if they neither have a risk factor nor ≥3 positive BC bottles, while a TTE is recommended if they have either ≥3 positive BC bottles or a risk factor. Further, a TTE and TOE are recommended if they present with both. High-risk streptococci (S. mitis/oralis, S. parasanguinis, G. adiacens) are directed to a TTE if they neither have a risk factor nor ≥3 positive BC bottles, but to TTE and TOE if they have either ≥3 positive BC bottles or a risk factor. Very high-risk streptococci (S. gordonii, S. gallolyticus, S. mutans, S. sanguinis) are guided directly to TTE and TOE due to a high baseline IE prevalence. Conclusion In addition to the clinical picture, this flowchart based on streptococcal species, number of positive blood culture bottles, and risk factors, can help guide the use of echocardiography in streptococcal bloodstream infections. Since echocardiography results are not available the findings should be confirmed prospectively with the use of systematic echocardiography.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Basilio Pintaudi ◽  
Alessia Scatena ◽  
Gabriella Piscitelli ◽  
Vera Frison ◽  
Salvatore Corrao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recently defined cardiovascular risk classes for subjects with diabetes. Aim of this study was to explore the distribution of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) by cardiovascular risk groups according to the ESC classification and to describe the quality indicators of care, with particular regard to cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The study is based on data extracted from electronic medical records of patients treated at the 258 Italian diabetes centers participating in the AMD Annals initiative. Patients with T2D were stratified by cardiovascular risk. General descriptive indicators, measures of intermediate outcomes, intensity/appropriateness of pharmacological treatment for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors, presence of other complications and overall quality of care were evaluated. Results Overall, 473,740 subjects with type 2 diabetes (78.5% at very high cardiovascular risk, 20.9% at high risk and 0.6% at moderate risk) were evaluated. Among people with T2D at very high risk: 26.4% had retinopathy, 39.5% had albuminuria, 18.7% had a previous major cardiovascular event, 39.0% had organ damage, 89.1% had three or more risk factors. The use of DPP4-i markedly increased as cardiovascular risk increased. The prescription of secretagogues also increased and that of GLP1-RAs tended to increase. The use of SGLT2-i was still limited, and only slightly higher in subjects with very high cardiovascular risk. The overall quality of care, as summarized by the Q score, tended to be lower as the level of cardiovascular risk increased. Conclusions A large proportion of subjects with T2D is at high or very high risk. Glucose-lowering drug therapies seem not to be adequately used with respect to their potential advantages in terms of cardiovascular risk reduction. Several actions are necessary to improve the quality of care.


2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1389-1397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiji Mabuchi ◽  
Mika Okazawa ◽  
Yasuto Kinose ◽  
Koji Matsuo ◽  
Masateru Fujiwara ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo evaluate the significance of adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) compared with adenocarcinoma (AC) in the survival of surgically treated early-stage cervical cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 163 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA2 to stage IIB cervical cancer who had been treated with radical hysterectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy between January 1998 and December 2008. The patients were classified according to the following: (1) histological subtype (ASC group or AC group) and (2) pathological risk factors (low-risk or intermediate/high-risk group). Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis of progression-free survival (PFS) was performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model to investigate the prognostic significance of histological subtype.ResultsClinicopathological characteristics were similar between the ASC and AC histology groups. Patients with the ASC histology displayed a PFS rate similar to that of the patients with the AC histology in both the low-risk and intermediate/high-risk groups. Neither the recurrence rate nor the pattern of recurrence differed between the ASC group and the AC group. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis and parametrial invasion achieved significantly shorter PFS than those without these risk factors.ConclusionsCharacteristics of the patients and the tumors as well as survival outcomes of ASC were comparable to adenocarcinoma of early-stage uterine cervix treated with radical hysterectomy. Our results in part support that the management of ASC could be the same as the one of AC of the uterine cervix.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 249-249
Author(s):  
Wei Loong Sherman Yee ◽  
Wai Yee Woo ◽  
Adelene Sim ◽  
Kar Perng Low ◽  
Alice Meng ◽  
...  

249 Background: A 22-gene GC has been proposed to refine risk stratification of localized PCa by conventional NCCN criteria, and this may potentially influence treatment recommendations. Nonetheless, majority of studies looking at the utility of GC were conducted in White and non-White men from Western cohorts. We therefore investigated the association of GC with NCCN risk groups (RG) in an Asian PCa cohort. Additionally, we examined for inter-racial differences in molecular subtyping between Asian and White/non-White PCa. Methods: GC (Decipher Biosciences Inc., CA) was performed on diagnostic biopsies of men who were treated with radiotherapy +/- hormonal therapy at a single institution (N = 75). ISUP Gleason’s grade (GG) and tumor cellularity were reviewed by an expert GU pathologist. RNA was extracted from 2 x 2.0-mm tumor cores using Qiagen AllPrep DNA/RNA FFPE Kit (Qiagen, Germany) and gene expression was performed on Affymetrix Human Exon 1.0 ST Array (ThermoFischer, CA). PAM50 molecular subtyping was derived using the DecipherGRID database. Results: We profiled 80 tumors from 75 patients, comprising of 18 (24.0%), 9 (12.0%), 21 (28.0%), and 19 (25.3%) NCCN low-/favorable intermediate-, unfavorable intermediate-, high- and very high-RG, respectively; of note, 8 (10.7%) patients had regional/metastatic disease at diagnosis. Using the GC, 27 (33.8%), 14 (17.5%) and 39 (48.8%) were classified as low- (<0.45), intermediate- (0.45-0.6) and high-RG, respectively (>0.6). When stratified using a three-tier clinico-genomic (CG) classification system (Spratt et al. 2017), 6 of 21 (28.6%) NCCN-defined high-risk and 4 of 19 (21.1%) very high-risk patients were downgraded to CG-defined intermediate-/low-risk, while 2 of 27 (7.4%) NCCN low-/intermediate-risk patients were in fact upgraded to CG high-risk. Next, we interrogated the PAM50 basal-luminal signature in our cohort. Interestingly, when matched to White (N = 5762) and non-White (N = 155) for NCCN RG, ISUP GG and age, we observed a high proportion of basal subtype (62.7%) in Asians, which contrasted the prevalence observed in White (16.7%) and non-White (15.9%) North American patients (Chi-sq P <0.001). Conclusions: Here, we demonstrated the utility of the 22-gene GC for refining the NCCN risk stratification in a largest Asian PCa dataset to-date. An unexpectedly high proportion of PAM50 basal-subtype was observed, suggesting race-specific differences of the tumor transcriptome.


Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yejin Mok ◽  
Lena Mathews ◽  
Ron C Hoogeveen ◽  
Michael J Blaha ◽  
Christie M Ballantyne ◽  
...  

Background: In the 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol guideline, risk stratification is an essential element. The use of a Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) is recommended for individuals without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and the new dichotomous classification of very high-risk vs. high-risk has been introduced for patients with ASCVD. These distinct risk stratification systems mainly rely on traditional risk factors, raising the possibility that a single model can predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in persons with and without ASCVD. Methods: We studied 11,335 ARIC participants with (n=885) and without (n=10,450) a history of ASCVD (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and symptomatic peripheral artery disease) at baseline (1996-98). We modeled factors in the PCE and the new classification for ASCVD patients (Figure legend) in a single CVD prediction model. We examined their associations with MACEs (myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure) using Cox models and evaluated the discrimination and calibration for a single model including those factors. Results: During a median follow-up of 18.4 years, there were 3,658 MACEs (3,105 in participants without ASCVD). In general, the factors in the PCE and the risk classification system for ASCVD patients were associated similarly with MACEs regardless of baseline ASCVD status, although age and systolic blood pressure showed significant interactions. A single model with these predictors and the relevant interaction terms showed good calibration and discrimination for those with and without ASCVD (c-statistic=0.729 and 0.704, respectively) (Figure). Conclusion: A single CVD prediction model performed well in persons with and without ASCVD. This approach will provide a specific predicted risk to ASCVD patients (instead of dichotomy of very high vs. high risk) and eliminate a practice gap between primary vs. secondary prevention due to different risk prediction tools.


2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 1125 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Horton ◽  
R. Corkrey ◽  
G. N. Hinch

In eight closely recorded Australian Merino and crossbred sheep flocks, all lamb deaths were examined and the cause of deaths identified if possible. Dystocia was identified as one of the major causes of lamb death and this study examined factors that could be used to identify ewes at high risk of dystocia, either to avoid dystocia or to assist with early intervention where possible. Dystocia was least common in lambs of ~4.8 kg, but there was a higher risk at both lower and higher birthweights. Dystocia with both low and high birthweight was more common in older ewes, ranging from negligible low birthweight dystocia in ewes less than 3 years old at lambing, to 5% in older ewes. Low birthweight dystocia increased with increasing litter size, with 40% dystocia in ewes at least 4 years of age with triplets. In contrast, high birthweight dystocia was not affected by litter size. A previous record of low birthweight dystocia was a risk factor for future low birthweight dystocia, but the same relationship was not observed for high birthweight dystocia. A high lambing ease score (difficult birth) with high birthweight was a risk factor for future high birthweight dystocia, but this was not the case for low birthweight dystocia. These differences between the risk factors for low and high birthweight dystocia suggest that they have different causes. High ewe liveweight and condition score during pregnancy may be additional indicators of the risk of dystocia, particularly for ewes with high liveweight in the first 60 days of pregnancy. For most ewes dystocia was difficult to predict, but there was a small proportion of ewes with a very high risk of dystocia and if these could be identified in advance they could be monitored much more closely than the rest of the flock.


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