Table 5 Comparison between elective and emergency insertion of Arabin pessary in study population at UKM Medical Center from 1st January 2013 until 31st December 2019, n = 58

Mean maternal age ± SD (years)

32.6 ± 4.4

33.7 ± 3.7

0.4^a

Mean pre-pregnancy body mass index ± SD, kg/m²

27.8 ± 6.4

25.0 ± 5.5

0.2^a

Presence of funnelling, n (%)

16.7 (3.6–77.5)

 No

39 (92.9)

7 (43.8)

< 0.001^b

 Yes

3 (7.1)

9 (56.2)

Mean cervical length at insertion ± SD, (mm)

34.7 ± 7.6

23.5 ± 7.9

< 0.001^a

Median gestation at insertion, weeks (IQR)

14.0 (13.0–15.0)

21.5 (18.8–25.0)

< 0.001^c

Pregnancy outcome, n (%)

0.2^d

 Term livebirth

22 (52.4)

7 (43.8)

 Preterm livebirth

15 (35.7)

7 (43.8)

 Miscarriage

5 (11.9)

1 (6.3)

 Early neonatal death

0 (0.0)

1 (6.1)

Birth < 34 weeks gestation, n (%)

10 (23.8)

5 (31.3)

1.4 (0.4–5.2)

0.7^b

Median gestational age at birth, weeks (IQR)

37.0 (34.0–38.5)

36.5 (28.4–37.3)

0.8^c

Median birthweight, (g) (IQR)

2630.0 (1897.5–2925.0)

2700.0 (1152.5–2937.5)

0.8^c

NICU admission, n (%)

8 (21.6)

3 (23.1)

1.1 (0.2–4.9)

1.0^b