Effectiveness of seasonal trivalent influenza vaccination against hospital-attended acute respiratory infections in pregnant women: A retrospective cohort study

Seasonal influenza is a common cause of hospital admission, especially in older people and those with comorbidities. The objective of this study was to determine influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing intensive care admissions and shortening the length of stay (LOS) in hospitalized laboratory-confirmed influenza cases (HLCI) in Catalonia (Spain). A retrospective cohort study was carried out during the 2017–2018 season in HLCI aged ≥18 years from 14 public hospitals. Differences in means and proportions were assessed using a t-test or a chi-square test as necessary and the differences were quantified using standardized effect measures: Cohen’s d for quantitative and Cohen’s w for categorical variables. Adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing severity was estimated by multivariate logistic regression where the adjusted VE = (1 − adjusted odds ratio) · 100%; adjustment was also made using the propensity score. We analyzed 1414 HLCI aged ≥18 years; 465 (33%) were vaccinated, of whom 437 (94%) were aged ≥60 years, 269 (57.8%) were male and 295 (63.4%) were positive for influenza type B. ICU admission was required in 214 (15.1%) cases. There were 141/1118 (12.6%) ICU admissions in patients aged ≥60 years and 73/296 (24.7%) in those aged <60 years (p < 0.001). The mean LOS and ICU LOS did not differ significantly between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. There were 52/465 (11.2%) ICU admissions in vaccinated cases vs. 162/949 (17.1%) in unvaccinated cases. Patients admitted to the ICU had a longer hospital LOS (mean: 22.4 [SD 20.3] days) than those who were not (mean: 11.1 [SD 14.4] days); p < 0.001. Overall, vaccination was associated with a lower risk of ICU admission. Taking virus types A and B together, the estimated adjusted VE in preventing ICU admission was 31% (95% CI 1–52; p = 0.04). When stratified by viral type, the aVE was 40% for type A (95% CI -11–68; p = 0.09) and 25% for type B (95% CI -18–52; p = 0.21). Annual influenza vaccination may prevent ICU admission in cases of HLCI. A non-significantly shorter mean hospital stay was observed in vaccinated cases. Our results support the need to increase vaccination uptake and public perception of the benefits of influenza vaccination in groups at a higher risk of hospitalization and severe outcomes.

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General versus regional anaesthesia for caesarean section indicated for acute foetal distress: a retrospective cohort study

BMC Anesthesiology ◽

10.1186/s12871-021-01289-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Junette Arlette Mbengono Metogo ◽

Theophile Njamen Nana ◽

Brian Ajong Ngongheh ◽

Emelinda Berinyuy Nyuydzefon ◽

Christoph Akazong Adjahoung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Medical Records ◽

Regional Anaesthesia ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Neonatal Resuscitation ◽

Maternal Outcomes ◽

Foetal Distress

Abstract Background Acute foetal distress (AFD) is a life-threatening foetal condition complicating 2% of all pregnancies and accounting for 8.9% of caesarean sections (CS) especially in developing nations. Despite the severity of the problem, no evidence exists as to the safest anaesthetic technique for the mother and foetus couple undergoing CS for AFD. We aimed to compare general anaesthesia (GA) versus regional (spinal and epidural) anaesthesia in terms of their perioperative maternal and foetal outcomes. Methods We carried out a retrospective cohort study by reviewing the medical records of all women who underwent CS indicated for AFD between 2015 to 2018 at the Douala General Hospital, Cameroon. Medical records of neonates were also reviewed. We sought to investigate the association between GA, and regional anaesthesia administered during CS for AFD and foetal and maternal outcomes. The threshold of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results We enrolled the medical records of 117 pregnant women who underwent CS indicated for AFD. Their mean age and mean gestational age were 30.5 ± 4.8 years and 40 weeks respectively. Eighty-three (70.9%), 29 (24.8%) and 05 (4.3%) pregnant women underwent CS under SA, GA and EA respectively. Neonates delivered by CS under GA were more likely to have a significantly low APGAR score at both the 1st (RR = 1.93, p = 0.014) and third-minute (RR = 2.52, p = 0.012) and to be resuscitated at birth (RR = 2.15, p = 0.015). Past CS, FHR pattern on CTG didn’t affect these results in multivariate analysis. Adverse maternal outcomes are shown to be higher following SA when compared to GA. Conclusion The study infers an association between CS performed for AFD under GA and foetal morbidity. This, however, failed to translate into a difference in perinatal mortality when comparing GA vs RA. This finding does not discount the role of GA, but we emphasize the need for specific precautions like adequate anticipation for neonatal resuscitation to reduce neonatal complications associated with CS performed for AFD under GA.

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The impact of levothyroxine exposure on delivery outcome in hypothyroid pregnant women (PETAL study): A five-year retrospective cohort study

Obstetric Medicine ◽

10.1177/1753495x211064108 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1753495X2110641

Author(s):

Diana Oprea ◽

Nadine Sauvé ◽

Jean-Charles Pasquier

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Caesarean Delivery ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Singleton Pregnancy ◽

Delivery Outcome ◽

The Impact

Background Hypothyroidism affects 3% of pregnant women, and to date, no studies have addressed the impact levothyroxine-treated hypothyroidism on delivery outcome. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted among 750 women with a singleton pregnancy who gave birth between 2015 and 2019. Delivery modes were compared between 250 hypothyroid women exposed to levothyroxine and 500 euthyroid control women. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of levothyroxine exposure on delivery outcome. Results Multiple logistic regression showed no significant association between exposure to levothyroxine and the overall rate of caesarean delivery (aOR 1.1; 95% CI 0.8 to 1.6). Mean TSH concentrations were significantly higher throughout the pregnancy in hypothyroid women despite levothyroxine treatment. Maternal and neonatal outcomes in both groups were not different. Conclusion Hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine during pregnancy according to local guidelines is not a significant risk factor for caesarean delivery.

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“INTERGROWTH21st vs customized fetal growth curves in the assessment of the neonatal nutritional status: a retrospective cohort study of gestational diabetes”

10.21203/rs.2.15293/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Juan Jesus Fernández Alba ◽

Estefania Soto Pazos ◽

Rocio Moreno Cortes ◽

Angel Vilar Sanchez ◽

Carmen Gonzalez Macias ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Positive Predictive Value ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Fetal Growth ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Growth Curves

Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with increased incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes including newborns large for gestational age, macrosomia, preeclampsia, polihydramnios, stillbirth, and neonatal morbidity. Thus, fetal growth should be monitored by ultrasound to limit fetal overnutrition, and thereby, its clinical consequence, macrosomia. However, it is not clear which reference curve to use to define the limits of normality. Our aim is to determine which method, INTERGROWTH21st or customized curves, better identifies the nutritional status of newborns of diabetic mothers.Methods This retrospective cohort study compared the risk of malnutrition in SGA newborns and the risk of overnutrition in LGA newborns using INTERGROWTH21st and customized birth weight references in gestational diabetes. Additionally, to determine the ability of both methods in the identification of neonatal malnutrition and overnutrition, we calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratios.Results 231 pregnant women with GDM were included in the study. The rate of SGA indentified by INTERGROWTH21st was 4.7% vs 10.7% identified by the customized curves. The rate of LGA identified by INTERGROWT21st was 25.6% vs 13.2% identified by the customized method. Newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH21st.(RR 4.24 vs 2.5). LGA newborns according to the customized method also showed a higher risk of overnutrition than those classified as LGA according to INTERGROWTH21st. (RR 5.26 vs 3.57). In addition, the positive predictive value of the customized method was superior to that of INTERGROWTH21st in the identification of malnutrition (32% vs 27.27%), severe malnutrition (22.73% vs 20%), overnutrition (51.61% vs 32.20%) and severe overnutrition (28.57% vs 14.89%).Conclusions In pregnant women with GDM, the ability of customized fetal growth curves to identify the newborns with alterations in nutritional status exceeds that of INTERGROWTH21st.

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Pertussis Immunisation in Pregnancy Safety (PIPS) Study: A retrospective cohort study of safety outcomes in pregnant women vaccinated with Tdap vaccine

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.011 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (34) ◽

pp. 5173-5179 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Jennifer B. Griffin ◽

Lennex Yu ◽

Donna Watson ◽

Nikki Turner ◽

Tony Walls ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Safety Outcomes ◽

Tdap Vaccine ◽

In Pregnancy

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Pregnancy outcome following bacteriuria in pregnancy and the significance of nitrites in urinalysis – a retrospective cohort study

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2018-0428 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 611-618

Author(s):

Eviatar Naamany ◽

Irit Ayalon-Dangur ◽

Eran Hadar ◽

Iftach Sagy ◽

Dafna Yahav ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Urine Culture ◽

Premature Delivery ◽

Positive Urine Culture ◽

Positive Urine ◽

Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Background The association between bacteriuria and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been extensively described. The current practice of screening all pregnant women for bacteriuria is challenged by recent studies. We aimed to evaluate pregnancy outcomes among women with a positive urine culture, to assess the significance of positive urinary nitrites in this setting. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study at the emergency department (ED) of the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Israel, during 2014–2018. This included all gravida women >18 years old within the 20th week of pregnancy or above, admitted to the ED with diverse complains, who had urinalysis collected and subsequently had a positive urine culture. Clinical and obstetric characteristics were stratified by positive vs. negative nitrites in urinalysis. The primary outcome was premature delivery, and the secondary outcomes were a composite outcome of all recorded pregnancy complications and the significance of urinalysis in predicting urinary tract infection (UTI). Results Overall, 874 pregnant women with a positive urine culture were included. Of them, 721 (79%) patients had a negative nitrite in their urine exam (NNU-group) and 153 (21%) had a positive nitrite in their urine exam (PNU-group). Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen, with significantly higher rates of growth in the PNU-group vs. NNU-group [129 (84.3%) vs. 227 (38.4%), P < 0.001]. Premature delivery was recorded with no association of symptomaticity or nitrite status. Among symptomatic women with classic symptoms of UTI, PNU was significantly associated with decreased risk for major peripartum complications [odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.22 (0.05–0.94)]. Conclusion Our findings support that PNU among symptomatic pregnant women with UTI-related symptoms was associated with lower risk of developing major adverse obstetrical outcomes.

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