Aoife McKeating

A review of European guidelines on periconceptional folic acid supplementation.

Strong evidence that folic acid (FA) prevents the majority of cases of neural tube defects (NTDs) has led to national organisations developing guidelines for women concerning periconceptional supplementation. In Europe, there is evidence of national variations in the incidence of NTDs, with a recent Irish study reporting an increase in the rate. This review compares the periconceptional FA supplementation guidelines between the different countries in Europe. An online search of country-specific guidelines produced before 2015 concerning periconceptional FA supplementation was conducted. If an English version was not available directly, the EUROCAT register was searched for the English version of the recommendations. We identified national guidelines from 20 European countries. Over half recommended that FA supplements be taken by women planning a pregnancy, but three recommended that they should be taken by all women of child-bearing age. Four guidelines recommended starting FA at least 4 weeks preconceptionally, but no country recommended starting FA at least 12 weeks preconceptionally as suggested by recently published studies. There is a need for further consideration of the duration of preconceptional FA supplementation specifically. The latest scientific evidence in this area should inform the development of European guidelines on FA, as there is wide variation in current recommendations. Overall, the wide variation in national guidelines concerning periconceptional FA supplementation may in part explain the differences in national rates of NTDs reported by EUROCAT. National guidelines on FA supplementation should be standardised across European countries.

The interplay between maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract There is a strong epidemiological association between maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Since the publication of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study on women with mild hyperglycemia in 2008, new criteria have been introduced in maternity services internationally for the diagnosis of GDM. As a result, the diagnosis of GDM may be made in one-third of obese women (n=68). The aim of this review was to examine the interplay between maternal obesity and GDM in light of the HAPO study and the subsequent revised diagnostic criteria. Obesity and GDM are important obstetric risk factors because they both are potentially modifiable. However, the new international criteria for the diagnosis of GDM have serious resource implications for maternity services provided to the large number of women attending for care in developed countries. Further consideration needs to be given as to whether obese women with mild hyperglycemia need to be referred to a multidisciplinary team antenatally if they do not require insulin treatment.

Maternal folic acid supplementation trends 2009–2013

We analyzed trends in folic acid supplementation among women booking for antenatal care between 2009 and 2013.

An analysis of folic acid supplementation in women presenting for antenatal care.

BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTDs) are major congenital malformations that are potentially preventable if the woman takes periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplements. A recent report found that NTD incidence had increased in Ireland. This study examined the usage of FA supplementation in women presenting for antenatal care in a maternity hospital. METHODS Women were recruited at their convenience in the first trimester. Their clinical and sociodemographic details were computerized. Maternal weight and height were measured before calculating body mass index. Detailed FA questionnaires were completed under supervision of a trained researcher. RESULTS While 96.1% (n = 564) out of 587 reported that they took FA after they became pregnant, only 24.7% (n = 145) took it for >12 weeks preconceptionally as recommended. Only 5.7% (n = 6) of obese women took high-dose FA as recommended. On univariate analysis, the strongest predictors of preconceptional FA usage were higher maternal age, higher education and income, being married, being nulliparous, not smoking, infertility treatment and planned pregnancy. On multivariate analysis, both planned pregnancy and nulliparity were the most important predictors of preconceptional FA use. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that current recommendations to prevent NTDs by FA supplementation pre-pregnancy are not being fully implemented in Ireland. We recommend a review of current public health policies on FA supplementation.

The relationship between unplanned pregnancy and maternal body mass index 2009–2012

Abstract Objective To analyse the relationship between unplanned pregnancy and maternal Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods A prospective case-control study of planned vs. unplanned pregnancies among women who delivered an infant weighing ≥ 500 g during the four years 2009–2012 in a large maternity hospital in Ireland. Maternal weight and height were measured at the first antenatal visit before calculation of BMI. Clinical and sociodemographic details were computerised. BMI was categorised according to the World Health Organization. The epidemiological associations were examined using logistic regression, adjusted for confounding variables. Results Between 2009 and 2012, 34,377 women were included, 31.7% (n = 10,894) reported an unplanned pregnancy and 16.6% (n = 5647) were obese. The odds ratios of unplanned pregnancy were greater among obese women compared with those of normal BMI (unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) 1.3; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.3–1.4 p < 0.001). These ratios increased with increasing BMI (mild unadjusted OR 1.3; CI 1.2–1.4 p < 0.001; moderate unadjusted OR 1.4; CI 1.2–1.6 p < 0.001; severe obesity unadjusted OR 1.7; CI 1.4–2.0 p < 0.001). The higher rate of unplanned pregnancy among obese women was associated with a lower rate of contraception usage and a higher rate of contraceptive failure. Only 37.6% (n = 2112) of obese women took preconceptional folic acid to prevent neural tube defects compared with 46.1% (n = 8176) of women with a normal BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusion Higher rates of unplanned pregnancy among obese women compared with women with a normal BMI is associated with compromised prepregnancy care in this high-risk population. Chinese Abstract 摘要： 目的 分析意外怀孕和孕妇体重指数(BMI)之间的关系。 方法 对在爱尔兰的一个大型妇产科医院里，从2009 - 2012年四年间，生产婴儿的体重≥500 g的计划内和计划外怀孕的女性，进行前瞻性病例对照研究。在计算体重指数之前的第一次产前随访时，测量孕妇的体重和身高。临床和社会人口的详细资料已用电脑处理。体重指数是根据世界卫生组织进行的分类。使用逻辑回归进行了流行病学关联调查，同时调整混杂变量。 结果 从2009年至2012年期间， 34377名女性被纳入研究。据报道， 31.7%(n=10894)的意外怀孕女性中有16.6%(n=5647)为肥胖女性。肥胖女性意外怀孕的比值比比体重指数(BMI)正常的女性意外怀孕的比值比大(未调整的比值比为1.3；95%可信区间：1.3-1.4， p < 0.001)。这些比值随着体重指数的增加而增大(轻微调整的比值比为1.3；可信区间：1.2-1.2， p < 0.001；适度调整的比值比为1.4；可信区间；1.2-1.6 ，p < 0.001；严重肥胖未经调整的比值比为1.7；可信区间；1.4-2.0 ，p < 1.4)。肥胖女性中较高的意外怀孕率与较低的避孕率及较高的避孕失败率有关。与46.1%(n=8176)的体重指数正常的女性相比，只有37.6%(n=2112) 的肥胖女性服用叶酸来预防神经管缺陷(p < 0.001)。 结论 肥胖女性意外怀孕的几率比体重指数正常的女性高，这个结论与肥胖女性放弃孕前保健有关。 关键词： 肥胖孕妇；意外怀孕；避孕

Maternal bacteremia and the Irish maternity early warning system

To assess whether introduction of the Irish maternity early warning system (IMEWS) in 2013 has improved the recording of vital signs among women with proven maternal bacteremia.

Trends in maternal obesity in a large university hospital 2009–2013

Maternal obesity has been identified as an important clinical priority in contemporary obstetrics. This study aimed to determine the incidence of maternal obesity in early pregnancy and track recent trends in body mass index (BMI) categories over 5 years 2009–2013.

Knowledge about folic acid supplementation in women presenting for antenatal care

Background/Objectives:The incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Ireland has increased in recent years. This study examines knowledge about folic acid (FA) supplementation for the prevention of NTDs among women presenting for antenatal care.Subjects/Methods:Women were recruited at their convenience in the first trimester after sonographic confirmation of an ongoing singleton pregnancy. A detailed questionnaire was completed under the supervision of a research dietitian. Clinical and socio-demographic details were collected.Results:Of the 587 women studied, 96% took FA during early pregnancy. Of these, 56.4% cited brain/spinal development or the prevention of brain/spinal defects, spina bifida or NTDs as the reason for taking FA. Multivariate analysis showed that women who were experiencing material deprivation or who were living in Ireland <5 years were least likely to be knowledgeable about the benefits of FA supplementation (P<0.05 for both). Over half (57.1%) of the women did not take FA preconceptionally. The main reason reported for not supplementing preconceptionally was that the woman did not expect to get pregnant (76.4%). Over one-third of women (35%), however, reported that they did not know they needed to take FA before becoming pregnant.Conclusions:These results highlight the need for a renewed public health campaign in Ireland about the importance of FA. As well as focusing on women who have recently come to live in Ireland, this campaign needs focus on women living in deprivation, as these are the women most at risk of having inadequate knowledge about the importance of FA in improving pregnancy outcomes.

A longitudinal study of unplanned pregnancy in a maternity hospital setting

To review family planning in a cohort of women who delivered a second child within 3 years of their first.

A national survey of preanalytical handling of oral glucose tolerance tests in pregnancy.

Title A national survey of preanalytical handling of oral glucose tolerance tests in pregnancy Authors(s) Daly, Niamh; Flynn, Iseult; Carroll, Ciara; Farren, Maria; McKeating, Aoife; Turner, Michael Publication date 2016-08 Publication information Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 54 (8): 221-223 Publisher De Gruyter Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/9259 Publishers version (DOI) 10.1515/cclm-2015-1083