124 Is there any impact of age on psychological well-being when facing early pregnancy problems?

Abstract

Background: Threatened miscarriage is one of the most common early pregnancy complication. About 20% of women may end up with miscarriage. Women may face a significant social and psychological morbidity. Objective: This study investigated if age of pregnant women would affect their psychological well-being on facing the early pregnancy problems. Method: All Chinese women attending the early pregnancy assessment clinic for early pregnancy problem of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding were recruited. Exclusion criteria included women requested for termination of pregnancy or referred for suspected ectopic pregnancy. Informed consent was obtained. Demographic data, pain and bleeding severity were collected. They were invited to fill in questionnaire before the consultation, including the Chinese versions of 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger’s State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Fatigue Scale (FS). After that, gynecological examination and transvaginal ultrasound scan were performed by qualified gynecologists. Diagnosis of first trimester miscarriage, unknown viability and viable pregnancy was made. Women would be further follow-up in 1–2 weeks if the first diagnosis was unknown viability to determine the viability.Comparison was made between women who were aged ≤ 20 years (Group A) and aged ≥ 21 years old (Group B). Results: In all, 18 women were aged ≤ 20 years. Significantly more women aged ≤ 20 years were nulliparous and smoker. More of them also reported bleeding symptoms. Overall, the mean scores of GHQ12, BDI, STAI and FS questionnaires were 4.0 ± 3.1 (range 0–12), 9.2 ± 6.9 (range 0–55), 54.3 ± 10.7 (range 21–80), 2.4 ± 0.5 (1–4) respectively. There was no significant difference in all the GHQ-12, BDI, STAI and FS scores. Conclusion: There was no significant difference on psychological well-being between women aged ≤ 20 years or ≥ 21 years when facing the early pregnancy problems. Table 1 Table 1Demographics and scores of different questionnaires on psychological well-being. AllN = 1271 Group A (n = 18) Group B (n = 1253) P-value Nulliparity 750 (59.0%) 15 (83.3%) 735 (58.7%) 0.035 Smoking 177 (13.9%) 8 (44.4%) 169 (13.5%) 0.002 Presence of bleeding 1002 (78.8%) 8 (44.4%) 994 (79.3%) <0.001 Presence of abdominal pain 866 (68.1%) 14 (77.8%) 852 (68.0%) 0.38 GHQ-12 4.0 ± 3.1 4.1 ± 2.7 4.0 ± 3.2 0.92 BDI 9.2 ± 6.9 10.9 ± 9.2 9.2 ± 6.9 0.28 STAI 54.3 ± 10.7 52.8 ± 9.2 54.3 ± 10.7 0.56 FS 2.4 ± 0.5 2.3 ± 0.5 2.4 ± 0.5 0.39 Outcome of pregnancy - Viable pregnancy 1111 (87.4%) 17 (94.4%) 1094 (87.3%) 0.72 -Miscarriage 160 (12.6%) 1 (5.6%) 159 (12.7%) Open table in a new tab