Early predicting a risk of preterm labour by analysis of antepartum electrohysterograhic signals

This study is aimed at evaluation of the capability to indicate the preterm labour risk by analysing the features extracted from the signals of electrical uterine activity. Free access database was used with 300 signals acquired in two groups of pregnant women who delivered at term (262 cases) and preterm (38 cases). Signal features comprised classical time domain description, spectral parameters and nonlinear measures of contractile activity. Their mean values were calculated for all the contraction episodes detected in each record and their statistical significance for recognition of two groups of recordings was provided. Obtained results were related to the previous study where the same features were applied but they were determined for entire signals. Influence of electrodes location, band-pass filter settings and gestation week was investigated. The obtained results showed that a spectral parameter – the median frequency was the most promising indicator of the preterm labour risk.