Abstract
Aim: To determine whether prenatal depression during late pregnancy affect maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: The clinical data of 595 pregnant patients in our hospital during January 2016 to December 2017 were studied. These participants were assigned into three groups as mild-to-moderate depression group, severe depression group and non-depression group according to the Edinburgh postnatal depressive scale (EPDS). Results: Compared with the women without depression or with mild-to-moderate depression, pregnant patients with severe depression were likely to suffer from preterm birth (p < 0.05). There was no association between the mild-to-moderate depression, severe depression group and the non-depression group about neonatal outcomes (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Severe prenatal depression during late pregnancy is significantly associated with increased risk of preterm birth, while mild-to-moderate prenatal depression would not affect maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Highlights
Depression is the leading cause of the global burden of mental health-related illnesses [1]
Severe prenatal depression during late pregnancy is significantly associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, while mild-to-moderate prenatal depression would not affect maternal and neonatal outcomes
Some studies showed that prenatal depression was associated with and preterm birth, low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction Several reports found no association between prenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight and low Apgar scores [13,14,15]
Summary
Depression is the leading cause of the global burden of mental health-related illnesses [1]. Pregnancy and postpartum are considered high risk periods [3]. A previous study showed that approximately 12% of pregnant patients were affected by prenatal depression with depression in the second and third trimester accounting for 12.8% and 12% of patients respectively [4]. On the basis of World Health Organizations [5], during the gestation or the postpartum period, 33.3%, 10% of pregnant women in developing and developed countries respectively, suffered from severe mental disorders. Some studies showed that prenatal depression was associated with and preterm birth, low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction Several reports found no association between prenatal depression and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight and low Apgar scores [13,14,15]
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