scholarly journals Assisted Reproductive Technology and Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Author(s):  
Hui Ju Chih ◽  
Flavia Elias ◽  
Laura Gaudet ◽  
Maria Velez

Abstract BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is one of the most common pregnancy complications and causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Many cohort studies were conducted to study adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with pregnancies from assisted reproductive technology. We aimed to comprehensively review all available evidence to date to compare the odds of HDP and preeclampsia between pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and spontaneous pregnancies.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis based on cohort studies identified from EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library (up to 2020) and manually using a structured search strategy. Cohort studies that compared pregnancies after IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm fertilization (ICSI) and SC with HDP or preeclampsia as the outcome of interest were included. The control group was women who conceived spontaneously without ART or fertility medications. Studies published in English, French, Chinese, and Portuguese were reviewed. Eligibility and quality of studies were evaluated by two reviewers independently. Quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) for Cohort Studies. The pooled results were reported in odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals based on random effects models. I-squared (I2) test was used to evaluate heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots.ResultsSeventy-eight studies were included after a screening of 1,879 abstracts and 275 full text articles. Compared to SC, IVF/ICSI singleton pregnancies (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.54-1.74; I2 = 79%) and multiple pregnancies (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.18-1.47; I2 = 73%) were both associated with higher odds of HDP. Singleton pregnancies with oocyte donation had the highest odds of HDP out of all groups analyzed (OR 4.11; 95% CI 2.75-6.16; I2 = 85%). Frozen embryo transfer resulted in higher odds of HDP (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.58-1.92; I2 = 55%) than fresh embryo transfer (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.33-1.53; I2 = 72%). Similar findings for preeclampsia were also reported.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis confirmed that IVF/ICSI pregnancies are at high odds of HDP and preeclampsia than SC, irrespective of the plurality. The odds were especially high in frozen embryo transfer and oocyte donation pregnancies.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Ju Chih ◽  
Flavia T. S. Elias ◽  
Laura Gaudet ◽  
Maria P. Velez

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is one of the most common pregnancy complications and causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including HDP. However, the impact of multiple pregnancies, oocyte donation, as well as fresh and frozen embryo transfer needs to be further studied. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to evaluate the association between ART and HDP or preeclampsia relative to spontaneous conception (SC). Methods We identified studies from EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library (up to April 8, 2020) and manually using structured search strategies. Cohort studies that included pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with or without intracytoplasmic sperm fertilization (ICSI) relative to SC with HDP or preeclampsia as the outcome of interest were included. The control group was women who conceived spontaneously without ART or fertility medications. The pooled results were reported in odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals based on random effects models. Numbers needed to harm (NNH) were calculated based on absolute risk differences between exposure and control groups. Results Eighty-five studies were included after a screening of 1879 abstracts and 283 full text articles. Compared to SC, IVF/ICSI singleton pregnancies (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.60–1.80; I2 = 80%) and multiple pregnancies (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.20–1.50; I2 = 76%) were both associated with higher odds of HDP. Singleton pregnancies with oocyte donation had the highest odds of HDP out of all groups analyzed (OR 4.42; 95% CI 3.00–6.51; I2 = 83%). Frozen embryo transfer resulted in higher odds of HDP (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.58–1.92; I2 = 55%) than fresh embryo transfer (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.33–1.53; I2 = 72%). The associations between IVF/ICSI pregnancies and SC were similar for preeclampsia. Most interventions had an NNH of 40 to 100, while singleton and multiple oocyte donation pregnancies had particularly low NNH for HDP (16 and 10, respectively). Conclusions Our meta-analysis confirmed that IVF/ICSI pregnancies are at higher odds of HDP and preeclampsia than SC, irrespective of the plurality. The odds were especially high in frozen embryo transfer and oocyte donation pregnancies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 174-190
Author(s):  
Yahui Yu ◽  
Ximu Sun ◽  
Xinrui Wang ◽  
Xin Feng

Purpose: Although folic acid (FA) supplementation has been shown to reduce general cardiovascular risks, its impact on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the association between FA and the risk of HDP (pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH)). Methods: PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to June 18, 2020, stratified by type of disease, initiation time of FA, form of FA and pre-conception Body Mass Index (BMI). The quality assessment of included studies was evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies and Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Between-study heterogeneity was quantified using Cochran’s Q-statistic and I2 statistics. Sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding the studies one by one, and publication bias was analyzed using funnel plots. Results: Twenty studies with 359041 patients were identified for inclusion in the meta-analysis which included 3 RCTs and 17 cohort studies. Pooled estimates showed RR of 0.83 (95%CI 0.74-0.93, P=0.0008) for association between low dose FA (LD-FA) and the risk of PE, but LD-FA was not associated with GH (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97-1.13, P=0.20). In addition, the results of subgroup analysis showed that post-conception LD-FA had a 31% decreased risk of PE (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.59-0.80, P<0.00001), and LD-FA in patients with pre-conception BMI<25 kg/m2 had a 32% decreased risk of PE (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.81, P<0.0001) Conclusions: LD-FA significantly decreased the risk of PE but not GH, and post-conception LD-FA and pre-conception BMI<25 kg/m2 were considered as protective factors to reduce the risk of PE.


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