Factors Of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Research Articles

Increased Risk of Stillbirth among Women whose Partner Has Tuberculosis.

Background The relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and adverse pregnancy outcomes remains unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate whether TB is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes including premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Method We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study in mainland China. A total of 3,668,004 Chinese women, along with their partners, were included in this study, within the National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkups Project, during 2015–2018. Propensity score matching was used to balance the two groups (cases: women or partners with TB; controls: women and partners without TB). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Multivariate logistic regression showed that the OR of stillbirth for cases was 1.89 (95% CI: 1.09–3.16), in comparison with the control group. In the subgroup analysis, women whose partner had TB had a higher risk of stillbirth (OR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.10–3.86) than women whose partner did not have TB. There was no significant difference in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth, between women with and without TB. Conclusions Women whose partner had TB were more likely to have stillbirth than women whose partners did not have TB.

Effects of individual dietary intervention on blood glucose level and pregnancy outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the incidence of adverse outcomes in pregnant women. Individual diet intervention (IDI) was developed in our center through collaboration with nutritionists to treat GDM and prevent further complications. We then aimed to analyze the effects of IDI on the level of blood glucose and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with GDM. We retrospectively enrolled pregnant women with GDM between April 2016 and March 2020. Participants in the control group received routine GDM care, and those in the study group received extra IDI on the basis of routine GDM care. Demographic and clinical characteristics of participating pregnant women were retrospectively collected. The study outcomes were the status of blood glucose control after 6 weeks of IDI or conventional intervention and pregnancy outcomes. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were sequentially performed to determine the predictors of proper blood glucose control and risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the study population. A total of 817 pregnant women who had been diagnosed as GDM were enrolled in this study, including 435 admitted between April 2016 to March 2018 who received conventional medication and 382 who were admitted between April 2018 to March 2020 and received IDI. Generally, there was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between study and control groups. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level after intervention was statistically lower in the study group than in the control group (5.6±0.9 vs. 5.5±0.7, P=0.006). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that IDI was a predictor of proper blood glucose control in GDM participants (P=0.003). There were more cesarean sections and cases of macrosomia in the control group than the study group, showing statistical difference (35.9% vs. 28.5%, P=0.026; 8.7% vs. 4.7%, P=0.023, respectively). According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, IDI was identified as playing a protective role against cesarean section in GDM participants (P=0.034) and it could reduce the incidence of macrosomia in GDM participants (P=0.028). This novel pattern of IDI may not only help stabilize blood glucose levels in pregnant women with GDM, but also reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes to a certain extent.

Evaluation of the diagnosis and treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy induced in the second trimester: a national multicenter retrospective study

Objective: To study the risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes for induced abortion of cesarean scar pregnancy in midtrimester. Methods: A national multicenter retrospective study was conducted. A total of 154 singletons pregnant women with cesarean scar pregnancy during the second trimester induced abortion by various reasons in 12 tertiary A hospitals were selected, their pregnant outcomes were observed and the risk factors of serious adverse outcomes were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logstic regression; the role of ultrasound and MRI in predicting placenta accreta and severe adverse outcomes was evaluated, the effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in preventing hemorrhage in pregnant women with and without placenta accreta was compared. Results: Among 154 subjects, the rate of placenta accreta was 42.2% (65/154), the rate of postpartum hemorrhage≥1 000 ml was 39.0% (60/154), the rate of hysterectomy was 14.9% (23/154), the rate of uterine rupture was 0.6% (1/154). The risk factor of postpartum hemorrhage≥1 000 ml and hysterectomy was placenta accreta (P<0.01). For each increase in the number of parity, the risk of placenta accreta increased 2.385 times (95%CI: 1.046-5.439; P=0.039); and the risk of placenta accreta decreased with increasing ultrasound measurement of scar myometrium thickness (OR=0.033, 95%CI: 0.001-0.762; P=0.033). The amount of postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy rate in the group with placenta accreta diagnosed by ultrasound combined with MRI were not significantly different from those in the group with placenta accreta diagnosed by ultrasound only or MRI only (all P>0.05). For pregnant women with placenta accreta, there were no significant difference in the amount of bleeding and hysterectomy rate between the UAE group [median: 1 300 ml; 34% (16/47)] and the non-embolization group (all P>0.05); in pregnant women without placenta accreta, the amount of bleeding in the UAE group was lower than that in the non-embolization group (median: 100 vs 600 ml; P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in hysterectomy rate [2% (1/56) vs 9% (3/33); P>0.05]. Conclusions: (1) Placenta accreta is the only risk factor of postpartum hemorrhage≥1 000 ml with hysterectomy for induced abortion of cesarean scar pregnancy in midtrimester; multi-parity and ultrasound measurement of scar myometrium thickness are risk factors for placenta accreta. (2) The technique of using ultrasound and MRI in predicting placenta accreta of cesarean scar pregnancy needs to be improved. (3) It is necessary to discuss of UAE in preventing postpartum hemorrhage for induced abortion of cesarean scar pregnancy in midtrimester.

Low Preconception Complement Levels Are Associated with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in a Multicenter Study of 260 Pregnancies in 197 Women with Antiphospholipid Syndrome or Carriers of Antiphospholipid Antibodies

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) can induce fetal loss in experimental animal models. Human studies did find hypocomplementemia associated with pregnancy complications in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but these results are not unanimously confirmed. To investigate if the detection of low C3/C4 could be considered a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) in APS and aPL carriers’ pregnancies we performed a multicenter study including 503 pregnancies from 11 Italian and 1 Russian centers. Data in women with APS and asymptomatic carriers with persistently positive aPL and preconception complement levels were available for 260 pregnancies. In pregnancies with low preconception C3/C4, a significantly higher prevalence of pregnancy losses was observed (p = 0.008). A subgroup analysis focusing on triple aPL-positive patients found that preconception low C3 and/or C4 levels were associated with an increased rate of pregnancy loss (p = 0.05). Our findings confirm that decreased complement levels before pregnancy are associated with increased risk of APO. This has been seen only in women with triple aPL positivity, indeed single or double positivity does not show this trend. Complement levels are cheap and easy to be measured therefore they could represent a useful aid to identify patients at increased risk of pregnancy loss.

Fetal Growth Disorders and Influence of Maternal Adiposity

Introduction: Infant birth weight is recognized as the leading indicator of health among infants and affects a wide range of subsequent outcomes later in life. The incidence of neonates with high birth weight has increased in recent years. Many studies in the past have revealed that high birth weight is associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality and associated with complications in later life. These complications include shoulder dystocia, birth trauma, asphyxia, and neonatal deaths. In the later life these neonates have high risk for obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cancer. High pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been reported as a well-established risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Despite the high prevalence of maternal obesity in the gulf region, only a few studies in this regard have been published. Methods: A retrospective service evaluation was conducted at a secondary hospital to evaluate the effect of pre-pregnancy BMI on neonatal birth weight. 950 women were randomly selected from women delivered at or more than 37 weeks gestation and grouped on the basis of pregnancy BMI as group A-BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2, group-B- BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2 and group C-BMI >30 kg/m2. Infants were grouped according to birth weight as low birth weight(<2500 g), normal birth weight (2500–3999 g), and high birth weight >4000g and correlation was studied with maternal body mass index. Chi square test was used for statistical evaluation using Medcal online software. Results: In the study group, 34.43% women had normal body mass index, 37.21 % women were overweight and 28.36 % were obese. In group A, 6.50% and 4.64 % infants were with low and high birth weight, respectively. In group B, 4.3% and 5.73 % were with low and high birth weight, respectively. In group C, 4.51% and 20.33 % infants were with low and high birth weight, respectively. In comparison to women with normal BMI, low birth weight infants in group B (OR-0.922, 95% CI- 0.327–1.275) and group C (OR- 0.679, 95% CI-0.682–1.572) were not statistically significant. High birth weight infants in group B (OR- 1.2482, 95% CI- 0.3270 to 1.2756, p = 0.2080) and group C (OR-5.230, 95% CI-2.875–9.512, p= < 0.0001) were positively correlated with pre-pregnancy BMI. Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity increased the risk of high birth weight (OR- 1.248 and 5.230 respectively). The results were statistically significant in obese women (p=< 0.0001). Conclusion: Women with pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity have higher likelihood of high birth weight in infants. Pre-pregnancy weight loss is the key to reduce maternal and fetal complications. Early pregnancy booking and antenatal fetal surveillance is recommended for all women with high body mass index.

The correlation between serum uric acid levels in the third trimester of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Objective: To investigate the associations between serum uric acid levels during the third trimester of pregnancy and risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective study, a cohort of 7 995 pregnant women who were hospitalized for childbirth from January 2014 to January 2019 were collected to compare pregnancy outcomes between subjects with or without hyperuricemia (HUA). A smooth curve analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between uric acid levels and preterm delivery, low birth weight and smaller than gestational age. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the interaction of the factors. Results: During the third trimester of pregnancy, the uric acid levels of about 10% pregnant women were over 420 μmol/L. In those with HUA, the median neonatal birth weight was 2 590 (1 790, 3 410) g, the probability of premature birth was 49.81%, and the incidence of small than gestational age was 20.41%. These were significantly different from the women without HUA (the median neonatal birth weight: 3300 (2850, 3640) g; the probability of premature birth 23.09%; the incidence of small than gestational age 6.55%, respectively) (All P<0.001). Maternal uric acid levels were negatively correlated with neonatal birth weight, and positively correlated with the risk of smaller than gestational age. It has a U-shaped association with the probability of premature birth, and the lowest probability of premature birth was at 200-400 μmol/L of the uric acid. Risks of low birth weight (adjusted β=-5.22, 95%CI-6.46--3.99) and smaller than gestational age (adjusted OR=1.03, 95%CI 1.02-1.04) were increased in the function of uric acid levels. High uric acid, hypertension, oligoamnios and preeclampsia were important risk factors for the adverse pregnancy outcomes. The risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight enhanced when hyperuricemia combined with hypertension and preeclampsia. Conclusions: Serum uric acid level can be used as one of reliable markers for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, which might provide theoretical basis for clinical intervention in practice.

Risk Factors for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes among Zhuang Ethnic Pregnant Women: A Cohort Study in Guangxi, China

SummaryRisk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes among Zhuang ethnic pregnant women are unclear. This study analyzed the incidence and risk factors related to preterm birth (PB), low birth weight (LBW) and macrosomia in Zhuang population. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 9965 Zhuang pregnancy women in Guangxi, China. Information on mothers and newborns was obtained by using questionnaires and referring to medical records. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between related factors and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our results showed that the incidence of PB, LBW and macrosomia in Zhuang people was 5.55%, 5.64% and 2.19%, respectively. Maternal age ≥36 years (OR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.51–3.27) was related to a higher incidence of PB. Those with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2 (OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.45–2.51), and had a female fetus (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.36–2.23) were more likely to have LBW infants. Maternal age between 31 and 35 years (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.03–2.99) and pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.15–2.80) were associated with a higher risk of macrosomia. The protective factors of macrosomia were maternal pre-pregnancy BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (OR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.15–0.60) and female fetus (OR=0.41, 95% CI: 0.28–0.59). Our study provided a reference for maternal and childcare administration among Zhuang population.

Subclinical thyroid diseases and isolated hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy.

Thyroid diseases in pregnancy are common. While data on management of overt diseases are clear, there is no consensus regarding subclinical thyroid disease. Many studies have tried to clarify the impact of subclinical thyroid disease on pregnancy outcomes without reaching universal conclusions. As several studies are present in literature, but no univocal indication is present to manage each condition, the present review tries to summarize the recent indications for such disease. The most updated guidelines are 2017 American thyroid association for thyroid disease during pregnancy, which at present represent the most accurate and reliable guide. Subclinical hyperthyroidism during pregnancy has not been associated with adverse outcomes and only needs follow up. Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with adverse obstetric and offspring outcomes. At present thyroxine treatment is recommended in selected cases, as beneficial effects are not clear for all these patients. Data regarding the association between isolated hypothyroxinemia and adverse maternofetal outcome are controversial but treatment is not indicated. Autoimmune thyroid disease represents the main thyroid risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. If patients have normal TSH values, treatment is not indicated. A possible thyroxine treatment can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in euthyroid patients with history of abortion/infertility. In the last years, risks of subclinical thyroid dysfunction on the outcome of gestation and new-born have been scaled back. Further prospective studies are necessary to better understand thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy to perfectly target treatment in appropriate settings.

Risk factors for pregnancy morbidity in women with antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) increases the risk of obstetric complications, but risk factors for pregnancy morbidity in women with APS remain incompletely characterized. This retrospective study included pregnant women with APS and a control group without APS admitted to Peking University People’s Hospital between January 2013 and September 2019. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (fetal loss, premature birth, fetal growth restriction [FGR], preeclampsia and neonatal death). We included 64 pregnancies in 59 patients with APS (age, 32.3 ± 4.3 years) and 256 pregnancies in 256 women without APS (age, 30.4 ± 3.3 years). Compared with the control group, the APS group had higher incidence rates of preeclampsia (10.9 % vs. 2.3 %, P = 0.002), premature rupture of membranes (17.2 % vs. 3.9 %, P < 0.001), postpartum hemorrhage (23.4 % vs. 4.3 %, P < 0.001), fetal loss (4.7 % vs. 0.8 %, P = 0.024) and premature delivery at ≤34 weeks (7.8 % vs. 2.3 %, P = 0.047). The incidence rates of hypertension during pregnancy, HELLP syndrome, gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios and FGR were similar in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that three or more prior spontaneous miscarriages (odds ratio [OR], 6.162; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.271–29.882; P = 0.024) and double-positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (OR, 4.024; 95 %CI, 1.025−15.794; P = 0.046) were independently associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. APS increases the risks of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes during pregnancy. Three or more spontaneous miscarriages and double-positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies are risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with APS.

Social Adaptability Index and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Diabetes During Pregnancy.

The social adaptability index (SAI) is a composite indicator capturing an individual's social adaptability within society and socioeconomic status to predict overall health outcomes. The objective of this analysis was to examine whether the SAI is an independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with and without diabetes during pregnancy. Data from the 2011-2017 National Survey of Family Growth were analyzed using a cross-sectional methodology. Women aged 18-44 years with a singleton gestation were included in the analysis. Maternal diabetes was defined as either presence of pregestational diabetes or diagnosis of gestational diabetes. The SAI was developed from the following maternal variables: educational level, employment status, income, marital status, and substance abuse. A higher score indicated lower risk. A series of multivariable logistic regression models were run stratified by maternal diabetes status to assess the association between SAI and pregnancy outcomes, including cesarean delivery, macrosomia (birth weight ≥4,000 g) and preterm birth (<37 weeks). All analyses were weighted and P <0.05 was considered significant. A total of 17,772 women were included in the analysis, with 1,965 (10.7%) having maternal diabetes during pregnancy. The SAI was lower in women with diabetes during pregnancy compared with control subjects (6.7 ± 0.2 vs. 7.2 ± 0.1, P <0.001). After adjusting for maternal race and ethnicity, insurance status, BMI, age, and partner support of the index pregnancy, SAI was associated with preterm birth among women with diabetes during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio 0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.94). The SAI was not significantly associated with cesarean delivery or macrosomia in women with diabetes during pregnancy and was not associated with these outcomes in women without diabetes during pregnancy. Among women with diabetes during pregnancy, a higher SAI is independently associated with a lower risk of preterm birth. The SAI could be a useful index to identify women at high risk of preterm birth in addition to traditionally defined demographic risk groups among women with diabetes during pregnancy.

A102 ADVERSE PREGNANCY-RELATED OUTCOMES IN WOMEN WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract Background Women with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia. Though aspirin prophylaxis is prescribed in the general population (prior to 16 weeks’ gestation) for those at high-risk of preeclampsia, its use in patients with IBD has not been established. Aims To determine the frequency of and risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with IBD, and to evaluate the risk for preeclampsia and the use of aspirin for primary prevention. Methods All pregnant women with IBD (Crohns disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and IBD-unclassified (IBDU)) seen at Mount Sinai Hospital from 2016–2020 were retrospectively identified. Demographics, reproductive history, and IBD characteristics including therapy and activity during pregnancy were recorded. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were also identified. Active disease during pregnancy was defined as a fecal calprotectin &amp;gt; 250 ug/g and/or using clinical disease activity scores. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square (x2) test and continuous variables using the Mann-Whitney test. A two-sided p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 127 patients (66 with CD, 60 with UC, 1 with IBDU) were included with a median age of 32 years at conception. The majority were Caucasian (70.9%), married (82.7%), completed post-secondary education (69.3%), had no prior or current smoking (78.7%) or alcohol use history (67.7%), and had no other comorbidities (81.9%). 50.4% of women had a prior pregnancy. 3 had a history of preeclampsia and 15/127 were prescribed aspirin prophylaxis. 73.2% of women were in clinical remission at conception. Compared to women with CD, women with UC were more likely to have infants with low birth weight (LBW) (p=0.031), small for gestational age (SGA) (p=0.002) and had higher rates of active IBD during pregnancy (p=0.005). 13 women with IBD developed preeclampsia (6 with UC and 7 with CD). IBD type (p=0.844) and disease activity (p=0.308) were not associated with preeclampsia. Married women (p=0.001) while those who had a preconception consultation (50/127) (p=0.009) had lower rates of preeclampsia while those with a prior history of preeclampsia had higher rates (p=0.002). Among women who developed preeclampsia, pregnancy outcomes were comparable to those who did not. Women on aspirin prophylaxis (5/13) had a higher rate of preeclampsia (p=0.012), although they were also more likely to have a history of preeclampsia (p=0.002). Aspirin use was not associated with subsequent disease activity in pregnancy (p=0.830). Conclusions Women receiving aspirin prophylaxis had higher rates of preeclampsia, likely owing to a higher baseline risk. Preeclampsia prevention with aspirin prophylaxis does not appear to result in disease flares but larger studies are needed to confirm this finding. Funding Agencies None

The effect of active and passive maternal smoking before and during pregnancy on neonatal weight at birth.

IntroductionSmoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data on the correlation between passive maternal smoking and pregnancy outcomes remain limited. We investigated the effect of active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during pregnancy on neonatal birthweight, including the risk for low birthweight (LBW).Material and methodsThe study was conducted between 2010 and 2012. A group of 8625 women were surveyed during postpartum hospitalization. Outcome measures included mean birthweight of newborns. Additionally, odds ratios with confidence intervals were calculated to investigate the risk for LBW in active and passive smoking groups of mothers.ResultsLower birthweight (46 g – 307 g; p < 0.05) and a higher risk for LBW (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.05–1.75; p < 0.05) were observed in all infants born to smoking mothers. A negative effect of ETS in pregnancy on the reduction of mean birthweight was also found. Additionally, we analyzed the cumulative effect of active and passive smoking on neonatal birthweight. A statistically significant reduction in neonatal weight at birth was found in a group of women who smoked actively and passively during pregnancy (130 g; p < 0.05).ConclusionsSmoking is associated with decreased birthweight and in a group of active smoking mothers increased risk for LBW. This effect is dose-dependent and is also present in a group of women who smoked before pregnancy. There is also a cumulative effect of active smoking and ETS causing decreased neonatal birthweight and increased risk for low birthweight.

Current knowledge on genetic variants shaping placental transcriptome and their link to gestational and postnatal health.

Despite the indispensable role of the placenta in the successful course of pregnancy, regulation of its dynamic transcriptome is still underexplored. The purpose of this literature review was to give an overview and draw attention to the contribution of genetic variation in shaping the human placental gene expression. Studies of placental transcriptome shaped by chromosomal variants are limited and may be confounded by cellular mosaicism and somatic genomic rearrangements. Even in relatively simple cases, such as aneuploidies, the placental transcriptome appears to differ from the assumed systematically increased transcript levels of the involved chromosomes. Single nucleotide variants modulating placental gene expression referred to as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) have been analyzed only in ten candidate gene and three genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The latter identified 417 confident placental eGenes, supported by at least two independent studies. Functional profiling of eGenes highlighted biological pathways important in pregnancy, such as immune response or transmembrane transport activity. A fraction of placental eQTLs (1-3%) co-localize with GWAS loci for adult disorders (metabolic, immunological, neurological), suggesting a co-contributory role of the placenta in the developmental programming of health. Some placental eQTLs have been identified as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as rs4769613 (C>T), located near the FLT1 gene and confidently associated with preeclampsia. More studies are needed to map genetic variants shaping gene expression in different placental cell types across three trimesters in normal and complicated gestations and to clarify to what extent these heritable factors contribute to maternal and offspring disease risks.

Exploring women\u2019s thoughts on self-weighing during pregnancy: results of the Self-Weighing in Pregnancy: Experiences (SWIPE) study

BackgroundExcess gestational weight gain is common and an important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Regular weighing can be used to assess and manage weight gain, but NICE guidelines do not recommend routine weighing during antenatal care. Trials that have tested the effectiveness of self-weighing to manage GWG have been unsuccesful in engaging women in regular self-weighing, although the reasons for lack of engagement are not fully understood. This study aimed to understand why this lack of engagement occurred by exploring the naturally occurring thoughts and feelings of pregnant women (9 to 15 weeks gestational age) who were asked to weigh themselves at home.MethodsTwenty-five women were recruited to take part. Participants completed short questionnaires at their first-trimester and 20-week scans. After recruitment, participants were asked to weigh themselves at roughly the same time each week for 8 weeks. Whilst they weighed themselves they were asked to audio-record their current weight and describe any thoughts or feelings that occurred as they weighed themselves. These audio recordings were then sent to researchers using a secure messaging service.ResultsMost of the recruited women (56%) were unaware of guidelines for gestational weight gain, and only 40% could identify the ideal rate of GWG for their BMI group. Thematic analysis of the think-aloud recordings resulted in three main themes: “understanding weight gain in pregnancy”, “taking action to prevent weight gain” and “reactions to self-weighing”. Overall, there was a relatively positive response to self-weighing and some participants used self-weighing to reflect on the reasons for weight gain and plan actions they could take to avoid excess gain. Negative emotional responses tended to be related to a lack of guidance about what level of weight gain or loss was “healthy”, or to other worries about the pregnancy. Of the women recruited who submitted at least one think aloud recording (n 10), 80% found self-weighing to be useful, and said they would likely continue to self-weigh at home.ConclusionsWomen had complex emotions about self-weighing during pregnancy but overall found it useful, suggesting it could be encouraged as part of self-regulatory interventions to control GWG. Clear guidelines about appropriate gestational weight gain could help to reduce anxiety.Trial registrationThe study was prospectively registered with ISRCTN ISRCTN10035244.

Impact of nicotine and maternal BMI on fetal birth weight

BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organization, smoking is the most important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes in industrialized nations. As the individual factors (body mass index – BMI (kg/m2) – and cigarette consumption) have been extensively investigated in pregnancy, we aimed to establish how maternal BMI and nicotine interact with regard to perinatal outcomes and birth weight.MethodsData from 110.047 singleton pregnancies, achieved from the German Perinatal Survey in Schleswig-Holstein and registered between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed in August 2018 concerning maternal BMI and smoking. The BMI was taken from the maternity log. Information concerning the smoking status were self-reported and further subdivided into the following four categories: a) non-smokers; b) 1–7 cigarettes/day; c) 8–14 cigarettes/ day; and d) ≥ 15 cigarettes/ day.Furthermore, we classified women by their BMI into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Comparisons between non-smokers and the respective smoking group, and their relationship with maternal BMI were performed by the t-test (birth weight). A P-value ≤0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.ResultsA number of 97.092 women (88.2%) were non-smokers and 12.955 (11.8%) were smokers. Furthermore 10.3% of women of normal weight smoked during pregnancy, but both high and low BMI were associated with a high prevalence of smoking. The proportion of smokers was highest (18.1%) among underweight women (BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2). A large number of smokers (15.5%) were registered in the obesity group (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2).Mean birth weight (≥ 37 + 0 gestational age) increased with increasing maternal BMI, and was reduced by smoking for every BMI category. The differences between smokers and non-smokers were always highly significant (p < 0.001). Mean birth weight varied between 2995 g in underweight frequent smokers and 3607 g in obese non-smokers.ConclusionBoth maternal BMI and smoking during pregnancy influences the birth weight and therefore pregnancy outcome. Smoking during pregnancy was significantly associated with low birth weight. Pregnant women should be advised to cease or at least reduce smoking in order to improve the birth weight of the newborn and to minimize child morbidities.

Predicting factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Thai patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A STROBE-compliant study.

Studies on predicting factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in Thai patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are limited. This retrospective observation study determined APOs and their predictors in Thai patients with SLE.Medical records of pregnant SLE patients in a lupus cohort, seen from January 1993 to June 2017, were reviewed.Ninety pregnancies (1 twin pregnancy) from 77 patients were identified. The mean age at conception was 26.94 ± 4.80 years. At conception, 33 patients (36.67%) had active disease, 23 (25.56%) hypertension, 20 (22.22%) renal involvement, and 6 of 43 (13.95%) positive anti-cardiolipin antibodies or lupus anti-coagulants, and 37 (41.11%) received hydroxychloroquine. Nineteen patients (21.11%) had pregnancy loss. Of 71 successful pregnancies, 28 (31.11%) infants were full-term, 42 (46.67%) pre-term and 1 (11.11%) post-term; 19 (26.39%) were small for gestational age (SGA), and 38 (52.58%) had low birth weight (LBW). Maternal complications occurred in 21 (23.33%) pregnancies [10 (11.11%) premature rupture of membrane (PROM), 8 (8.89%) pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), 4 (4.44%) oligohydramnios, 2 (2.22%) post-partum hemorrhage, and 1 (1.11%) eclampsia]. Patients aged ≥ 25 years at pregnancy and those ever having renal involvement had predicted pregnancy loss with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) [95% CI] of 4.15 [1.10–15.72], P = .036 and 9.21 [1.03–82.51], P = .047, respectively. Renal involvement predicted prematurity (6.02 [1.77–20.52, P = .004), SGA (4.46 [1.44–13.78], P = .009), and LBW in infants (10.01 [3.07–32.62], P < .001). Prednisolone (>10 mg/day) and immunosuppressive drugs used at conception protected against prematurity (0.11 [0.02–0.85], P = .034). Flares and hematologic involvement predicted PROM (8.45 [1.58–45.30], P = .013) and PIH (9.24 [1.70–50.24], P = .010), respectively. Cutaneous vasculitis (33.87 [1.05–1,094.65], P = .047), and renal (31.89 [6.66–152.69], P < .001), mucocutaneous (9.17 [1.83–45.90], P = .007) and hematologic involvement (128.00 [4.60–3,564.46], P = .004) during pregnancy predicted flare; while prednisolone (>10 mg/day) and immunosuppressive drug use at conception reduced that risk (0.08 [0.01–0.68, P = .021).APOs remain a problem in Thai pregnant SLE patients. Renal involvement and SLE flares were associated with the risk of APOs.

Pregnancy Outcomes of Women Hospitalized for Physical Assault, Sexual Assault, and Intimate Partner Violence.

Pregnancy outcomes of women with serious injuries due to violence receive limited attention. We examined the association of assault before and during pregnancy with maternal and infant outcomes at delivery. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 2,193,711 births in Quebec, Canada between 1989 and 2016. We identified women who were hospitalized for physical assault, sexual assault, and assault with documented intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy. We examined adverse outcomes at delivery, including preeclampsia, placental abruption, antepartum hemorrhage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight, and other disorders. In log-binomial regression models, we estimated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between violence hospitalization and adverse birth outcomes, adjusted for potential confounders. Compared with no exposure, violence before or during pregnancy was associated with the future risk of placental abruption (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23-1.82), antepartum hemorrhage (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.19-1.71), stillbirth (RR 1.83, 95% CI 1.27-2.63), preterm birth (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.54-1.87), and low birthweight (RR 1.78, 95% CI 1.58-2.00). Physical assault, sexual assault, and assault with documented intimate partner violence were all associated with adverse outcomes. The risk of adverse outcomes was elevated regardless of timing and number of violence admissions, although associations were stronger for women hospitalized twice or more. Physical assault, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence are important risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Screening for violence in women of childbearing age and closer follow-up during pregnancy may help improve birth outcomes.

1072 Early pregnancy BMI and angiogenesis-related biomarkers (sFlt-1/PlGF): a pathway for adverse pregnancy outcomes?

Obesity is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, but it is unclear whether this is mediated through placental angiogenic factors. We examined the relationship between early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and 1st- and 2nd-trimester concentrations of sFlt-1/PlGF as a potential biologic pathway for placental insufficiency. We conducted secondary analyses of data and samples from a large, multi-site prospective cohort study of nulliparous pregnant women conducted in the U.S. First- and 2nd-trimester blood samples, 1st-trimester BMI, demographic, lifestyle, and pregnancy data were gathered for all participants. sFlt-1 and PlGF concentrations were measured for a subsample of 1,502 cases (delivery<37weeks, preeclampsia or eclampsia, birthweight for gestational age <5th%, or stillbirth) and 911 controls. We used one-way ANOVA and multivariable linear and logistic regression models to test the association of BMI and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, using a previously published ratio cutoff of ≥38 in logistic regression. We identified potential confounders a priori and used backward elimination to determine the best-fit model. Plots of mean sFlt-1/PlGF ratios by BMI category and gestational week showed lower ratios in overweight and obese groups in the 1st trimester, which reversed to higher ratios among overweight and obese groups in the 2nd trimester (Fig. 1). After controlling for clinical and demographic factors, women in all high BMI groups had significantly lower mean sFlt-1/PlGF ratios than normal weight women in the 1st trimester (Table 1). In the 2nd trimester, women with BMI ≥35 had a 35% higher mean sFlt-1/PlGF ratio than normal weight women (p=0.009). Logistic regression suggested increased odds of a 2nd-trimester ratio ≥38 among women with BMI ≥35, though not statistically different from 1.0 (OR 2.59, 95% CI 0.95-7.08). Early pregnancy BMI is associated with alterations in first- and second-trimester sFlt-1/PlGF ratios. Findings suggest a potential physiologic pathway between obesity and placental insufficiency.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Longitudinal Assessment of Relationships Between Health Behaviors and IL-6 in Overweight and Obese Pregnancy

Inflammation is a common factor in adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Behavioral factors influence inflammatory markers and APOs but rarely have been investigated simultaneously in pregnancy. Our purpose was to determine how diet, physical activity, and obesity are associated with interleukin (IL)-6 in early and late pregnancy. We conducted a secondary analysis of 49 overweight/obese pregnant women. Health behavior data, including diet quality using the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®); physical activity (Leisure Time Physical Activity scale); body mass index (BMI); and plasma IL-6 concentrations were collected at 13-16 weeks (early pregnancy) and 34-36 weeks (late pregnancy) gestation. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the amount of variance explained in early and late pregnancy IL-6 concentrations by early and late pregnancy diet, physical activity, and BMI. Early diet and early BMI were the strongest predictors of early IL-6 concentrations (R2 = 0.43; p < .001) and late IL-6 concentrations (R2 = 0.30; p < .001). Late BMI predicted late IL-6 (R2 = .11; p = .02). Change in diet over pregnancy predicted late IL-6 (R2 = 0.17; p = .03). These findings suggest that maternal diet and BMI in early pregnancy, which likely reflects prepregnancy status, may have a greater impact on inflammatory processes than factors later in pregnancy. Future work should assess if behavioral factors before pregnancy produce similar relationships to those reported here, which may clarify the timing and type of lifestyle interventions to effectively reduce APOs.

Consideration of Oral Health and Periodontal Diseases During Pregnancy: Knowledge and Behaviour Among French Pregnant Women.

Purpose: Several studies demonstrated compromised oral health and periodontal diseases as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, consideration of oral health by pregnant women remains elusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and behaviour of French pregnant women towards relationship between oral conditions and pregnancy outcomes and to evaluate influencing factors. Materials and Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was given to women between 1 and 3 days after delivery in three specialised clinics in France. The questionnaire aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics, self-perceived oral health, type of pregnancy follow-up and knowledge regarding oral conditions during pregnancy and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate correlation between knowledge and behaviour. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 212 women. Among them, 92% considered prevention of oral diseases during pregnancy important. Despite knowledge of potential negative influence of periodontal diseases on pregnancy outcomes, only 47% of pregnant women received dental diagnosis or treatment during pregnancy. Only 18% of the women discussed oral health consideration during pregnancy with health professional in charge of pregnancy follow-up. Interestingly, absence of dental consultation during pregnancy was associated with low rate of dental consultation prior to pregnancy (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Pregnant women were aware of the association between oral health and pregnancy and of need of prevention. However, consideration of importance of oral health was not adequate to the rate of dental consultation and seems to be influenced by individual dental follow-up habits prior to pregnancy. Clinical Relevance: Dental evaluation should be considered systematically during pregnancy follow-up.