Background: Pregnant and post-partum (collectively peri-partum) women may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Aims: To describe the characteristics, interventions, and outcomes of peri-partum patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia with COVID-19.
Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicentre observational study using the SPRINT-SARI Australia database across 63 ICUs in Australia. All women <45 years of age, admitted to a participating Australian ICU, with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 1 June 2023 were included. Participants were categorised as either peri-partum, defined as pregnant or up to six weeks post-partum, or non-pregnant. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.
Results: A total of 737 eligible female patients were admitted to ICUs over the study period: 168/737 (23%) were peri-partum, while 569/737 (77%) were non-pregnant. The median age of peri-partum women was 31 (interquartile range (IQR) 27-36) years old, and median gestation was 28.0 (IQR 4-40) weeks. When compared to non-pregnant women, peri-partum women had lower rates of comorbidities (1.8% vs 14.4% P < 0.001), lower vaccination rates (27.4% vs 45.2%, P < 0.001), similar rates of mechanical ventilation, and greater use of tocilizumab (29.2% vs 4.0%, P < 0.001). Complications were low in both groups. In-hospital mortality was lower in peri-partum patients: 1/168 (0.6%) vs 24/569 (4.2%); P = 0.04.
Conclusions: Peri-partum patients made up ~25% of all women aged <45 years old admitted to Australian ICUs with COVID-19, and nearly 30% required mechanical ventilation. Despite lower vaccination rates in peri-partum patients, in-hospital mortality was lower than in non-pregnant patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13908 | DOI Listing |
BMJ Sex Reprod Health
December 2024
Sexual and Reproductive Health, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.
Background: The postpartum period is a high-risk time for unintended pregnancy. We developed a 2-minute audiovisual animation on postpartum contraception (PPC) including the return of fertility after birth for patients. The aim of our study was to determine the views of healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in pregnancy care on the animation and to identify facilitators and barriers to its implementation into routine pregnancy care pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Med Ethics
December 2024
Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
Background: Appropriate language use is essential to ensure inclusion of diverse populations in research. We aimed to identify possible language-related barriers regarding the informed consent process and propose interventions to improve clarity and understanding of pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in research.
Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study employing focus group discussions (FGD) was conducted in Uganda from August 2023 to September 2023, involving a diverse group of stakeholders from the community, including community members, research participants, and Community Advisory Board members.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
December 2024
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine University of Ibadan & University College Hospital, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Background: The postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of maternal mental disorders. The combined effect of having the mother's infant admitted to a tertiary hospital in a low-resource setting and the need to exclusively breastfeed the infant may exaggerate this risk. This study aimed to determine the breastfeeding support provided to mothers whose infants were hospitalised in Nigerian tertiary hospital nurseries and the prevalence of common mental health disorders among this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Endocrinol (Lausanne)
December 2024
Section of Endocrinology & Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
Normal pregnancy and lactation have a marked physiological impact on maternal bone metabolism. This impact is usually temporary and reversible, but some women sustain fragility fractures whilst pregnant or lactating, termed pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO). These fractures have severe negative consequences on their quality of life, at what is a crucial stage in a mother's life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Pregnancy Childbirth
December 2024
University Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 244, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia.
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and peripartum depression (PPD) are increasing global health issues with potentially long-lasting adverse outcomes. While limited studies suggest a bidirectional relationship between GDM and PPD, most research has been cross-sectional and focused on one direction of the relationship, primarily if GDM predicts postpartum depression. The interplay between antenatal depression and GDM is less explored, with a critical lack of prospective bidirectional studies.
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