Introduction:
Intervention bias refers to a systematic difference in management or variable exposure among subjects in studies, which can significantly influence outcomes. In the context of stillbirth research, the identification of high-risk profiles leads to modified management of pregnancies aimed at reducing stillbirth incidence. From a scientific perspective, therefore, it is crucial to identify near-misses: the stillbirths that would have occurred if management had remained unchanged.
The Wellcome Leap In Utero program (https://wellcomeleap.org/inutero/), with its goal to tackle the global issue of stillbirth, endeavors to develop scalable capacity for accurate measurement, modeling, and prediction, with the aim of halving stillbirth rates without increasing provider-initiated delivery within the next 5-10 years. Fifteen programs were selected to collaboratively improve the identification of at-risk fetuses using various technologies. During the Principal Investigator (PI) meeting held in Horsley, UK, from March 5-7, 2023, a time-condensed Delphi consensus procedure was employed to address the need for synchronized stillbirth near-miss definition.