Margaret G. Jamison

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pregnancy. A United States Population-Based Study

Background— The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, mortality, and risk factors for pregnancy-related acute myocardial infarction in the United States. Methods and Results— The Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2000 to 2002 was queried for all pregnancy-related discharges. A total of 859 discharges included a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, for a rate of 6.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0 to 9.4) per 100 000 deliveries. Among these, there were 44 deaths, for a case fatality rate of 5.1%. The odds of acute myocardial infarction were 30-fold higher for women aged 40 years and older than for women <20 years of age. Single independent variables that were statistically and clinically significant, including age, race, and certain medical conditions and obstetric complications, were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. Hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 21.7, 95% CI 6.8 to 69.1), thrombophilia (OR 25.6, 95% CI 9.2 to 71.2), diabetes mellitus (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.3), smoking (OR 8.4, 95% CI 5.4 to 12.9), transfusion (OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.0 to 12.7), postpartum infection (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 10.1), and age 30 years and older remained as significant risk factors for pregnancy-related acute myocardial infarction. Black race was eliminated as a risk factor in the multivariable analysis, which suggests that the increased incidence among black women is explained by an increased prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions— Although acute myocardial infarction is a rare event in women of reproductive age, pregnancy increases the risk 3- to 4-fold. Certain medical conditions and complications of pregnancy increase the risk further and are potentially modifiable risk factors.

Incidence and risk factors for stroke in pregnancy and the puerperium.

Objective: To estimate the incidence, mortality, and risk factors for pregnancy-related stroke in the United States. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, for the years 2000–2001 was queried for International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes for stroke among all pregnancy-related discharges. Results: A total of 2,850 pregnancy-related discharges included a diagnosis of stroke for a rate of 34.2 per 100,000 deliveries. There were 117 deaths or 1.4 per 100,000 deliveries. Twenty-two percent of survivors were discharged to another facility. The risk of stroke increased with age, particularly ages 35 years and older. African-American women were at a higher risk, odds ratio (OR) 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–1.9). Medical conditions that were strongly associated with stroke included migraine headache, OR 16.9 (CI 9.7–29.5), thrombophilia, OR 16.0 (CI 9.4–27.2), systemic lupus erythematosus, OR 15.2 (CI 7.4–31.2), heart disease, OR 13.2 (CI 10.2–17.0), sickle cell disease, OR 9.1 (CI 3.7–22.2), hypertension, OR 6.1(CI 4.5–8.1) and thrombocytopenia, OR 6.0 (CI 1.5–24.1). Complications of pregnancy that were significant risk factors were postpartum hemorrhage, OR 1.8 (CI 1.2–2.8), preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, OR 4.4 (CI 3.6–5.4), transfusion OR 10.3 (CI 7.1–15.1) and postpartum infection, OR 25.0 (CI 18.3–34.0). Conclusion: The incidence, mortality and disability from pregnancy related-stroke are higher than previously reported. African-American women are at an increased risk, as are women aged 35 years and older. Risk factors, not previously reported, include lupus, blood transfusion, and migraine headaches. Specific strategies, not currently employed, may be required to reduce the devastation caused by stroke during pregnancy and the puerperium. Level of Evidence: II-2

Incidence and risk factors for stroke in pregnancy and the puerperium

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence, mortality, and risk factors for pregnancy-related stroke in the United States. METHODS The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, for the years 2000-2001 was queried for International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes for stroke among all pregnancy-related discharges. RESULTS A total of 2,850 pregnancy-related discharges included a diagnosis of stroke for a rate of 34.2 per 100,000 deliveries. There were 117 deaths or 1.4 per 100,000 deliveries. Twenty-two percent of survivors were discharged to another facility. The risk of stroke increased with age, particularly ages 35 years and older. African-American women were at a higher risk, odds ratio (OR) 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-1.9). Medical conditions that were strongly associated with stroke included migraine headache, OR 16.9 (CI 9.7-29.5), thrombophilia, OR 16.0 (CI 9.4-27.2), systemic lupus erythematosus, OR 15.2 (CI 7.4-31.2), heart disease, OR 13.2 (CI 10.2-17.0), sickle cell disease, OR 9.1 (CI 3.7-22.2), hypertension, OR 6.1(CI 4.5-8.1) and thrombocytopenia, OR 6.0 (CI 1.5-24.1). Complications of pregnancy that were significant risk factors were postpartum hemorrhage, OR 1.8 (CI 1.2-2.8), preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, OR 4.4 (CI 3.6-5.4), transfusion OR 10.3 (CI 7.1-15.1) and postpartum infection, OR 25.0 (CI 18.3-34.0). CONCLUSION The incidence, mortality and disability from pregnancy related-stroke are higher than previously reported. African-American women are at an increased risk, as are women aged 35 years and older. Risk factors, not previously reported, include lupus, blood transfusion, and migraine headaches. Specific strategies, not currently employed, may be required to reduce the devastation caused by stroke during pregnancy and the puerperium. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II-2.

A national study of the complications of lupus in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to determine the risk of rare complications during pregnancy for women with systemic lupus erythematosus. STUDY DESIGN By using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2000-2003, we compared maternal and pregnancy complications for all pregnancy-related admissions for women with and without systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS Of more than 16.7 million admissions for childbirth over the 4 years, 13,555 were to women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Maternal mortality was 20-fold higher among women with systemic lupus erythematosus. The risks for thrombosis, infection, thrombocytopenia, and transfusion were each 3- to 7-fold higher for women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus patients also had a higher risk for cesarean sections (odds ratio: 1.7), preterm labor (odds ratio: 2.4), and preeclampsia (odds ratio: 3.0) than other women. Women with systemic lupus erythematosus were more likely to have other medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and thrombophilia, that are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION Women with systemic lupus erythematosus are at increased risk for serious medical and pregnancy complications during pregnancy.

Morbidity associated with sickle cell disease in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify morbidity that is associated with sickle cell disease (SCD) in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the years 2000-2003 was queried for all pregnancy-related discharges with a diagnosis of SCD. RESULTS There were 17,952 deliveries (0.1% of the total) to women with SCD. There were 10 deaths (72.4 per 100,000 deliveries). Cerebral vein thrombosis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, deep venous thrombosis, transfusion, postpartum infection, sepsis, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were much more common among women with SCD. They were more likely to undergo cesarean delivery, to experience pregnancy-related complications (such as gestational hypertension/preeclampsia, eclampsia, abruption, antepartum bleeding, preterm labor, and fetal growth restriction), and to have cardiomyopathy or pulmonary hypertension at the time of delivery. CONCLUSION Women with sickle cell disease are at greater risk for morbidity in pregnancy than previously estimated.

Bleeding events and other complications during pregnancy and childbirth in women with von Willebrand disease

Summary.  Background: Case reports and case series suggest that women with von Willebrand disease (VWD) are at an increased risk of bleeding complications during pregnancy and delivery. Objectives: To estimate the incidence of bleeding events and other complications in women with VWD during pregnancy and childbirth. Methods: The United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the years 2000–2003 was queried for all pregnancy‐related discharges. Women with a diagnosis of VWD were compared with women without VWD. Data were analyzed based on the NIS sampling design. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios with 95% CI. Results: There were 4067 deliveries among women with VWD (1 in 4000 deliveries). Although women with VWD were more likely to experience antepartum bleeding [odds ratio (OR) 10.2, 95% CI: 7.1, 14.6], they were no more likely to experience premature labor, placental abruption, fetal growth restriction or intrauterine fetal demise. Women with VWD were more likely to experience a postpartum hemorrhage (OR, 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.0), and had a 5‐fold increased risk of being transfused (OR, 4.7; 95% CI: 3.2, 7.0). Five of the 4067 women with VWD died, a maternal mortality rate 10 times higher than that for other women. Conclusions: Although women with VWD do not appear to be at an increased risk of poor fetal outcomes, they are at an increased risk of bleeding events and possibly death during pregnancy and childbirth.

Migraines during pregnancy linked to stroke and vascular diseases: US population based case-control study

Objective To examine the association between migraine and cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy. Design US population based case-control study. Setting Nationwide inpatient sample, from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Population 18 345 538 pregnancy related discharges from 2000 to 2003. Main outcome measures Diagnosis of migraine, as identified by ICD-9 codes 346.0 and 346.1. Stroke and other vascular diseases were identified by using standard ICD-9 codes. Results From the hospital discharges with a pregnancy discharge code, 33 956 migraine codes were identified: 185 per 100 000 deliveries. Diagnoses that were jointly associated with migraine codes during pregnancy (excluding pre-eclampsia) were stroke (odds ratio 15.05, 95% confidence interval 8.26 to 27.4), myocardial infarction/heart disease (2.11, 1.76 to 2.54), pulmonary embolus/venous thromboembolism (3.23, 2.06 to 7.07), and hypertension (8.61, 6.43 to 11.54), as well as pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension (2.29, 2.13 to 2.46), smoking (2.85, 2.53 to 3.21), and diabetes (1.96, 1.64 to 2.35). However, migraine was not associated with several non-vascular diagnoses (pneumonia, transfusions, postpartum infection or haemorrhage). Conclusions In this large, population based sample of pregnant women admitted to hospital, a strong relation existed between active peripartum migraine and vascular diagnoses during pregnancy. Because these data do not allow determination of which came first, migraine or the vascular condition, prospective studies of pregnant women are needed to explore this association further.

Consequences of Smoking during Pregnancy on Maternal Health

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence of maternal cardiovascular and pulmonary events and the prevalence of other comorbid conditions among pregnant smokers. METHODS We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for pregnancy-related discharge codes for the years 2000-2004. The prevalence of various conditions and the incidence of various complications were compared between smokers and nonsmokers. RESULTS The majority of smokers were young and white and had public insurance. Smokers were more likely to have experienced deep vein thrombosis (odds ratio [OR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 1.6), stroke (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2, 2.5), pulmonary embolus (OR 2.5, 95% CI 2.1, 3.0), and myocardial infarction (OR 4.6, 95% CI 3.3, 6.4). They were 3 times more likely to have experienced influenza or pneumonia (OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.7, 3.2) and 15 times more likely to have bronchitis (OR 15.2, 95% CI 12.8, 18.2). They were more likely to suffer from a number of comorbidities, including asthma (OR 4.0, 95% CI 3.7, 4.2) and gastrointestinal ulcers (OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.6, 5.5). Although they were less likely to have experienced gestational diabetes (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.9, 1.0), preeclampsia (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8, 0.9), or eclampsia (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6, 0.9), they were more than 5 times as likely to have experienced an ectopic pregnancy (OR 5.4, 95% CI 4.6, 6.3). CONCLUSIONS Smoking has a negative impact on maternal health. Counseling about the risks of smoking in pregnancy should include not only fetal risks but maternal risks as well.

Detrusor overactivity does not predict outcome of sacral neuromodulation test stimulation

The aim of this study is to determine if urodynamic findings in patients with urge incontinence predicts response to sacral neuromodulation test stimulation. One hundred four patients with refractory urinary urge incontinence who had undergone sacral neuromodulation test stimulation were retrospectively reviewed. Pre- and post-test stimulation incontinence parameters and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction strength was documented. Urodynamics were reviewed on all patients, and the presence or absence of detrusor overactivity (DO) was noted. Patients were then divided into two groups: responders to the test stimulation and non-responders. A positive response was considered to be a ≥50% improvement in the number of incontinent episodes per day (IE/day) and/or pad weight with test stimulation. Of the 104 patients evaluated, 64% (N = 67) responded to the test stimulation, while 36% (N = 37) were non-responders. The mean age was 59.7 and 67.0 among responders and non-responders (p = .01). There was a significant difference in the number of IE/day between non-responders and responders (p = .02). There was no relationship found between the presence or absence of DO and the likelihood for test stimulation success, patient demographics or pre test stimulation incontinence variables. Our study provides no statistically significant evidence that the presence or absence of DO on urodynamics predicts a response to sacral neuromodulation test stimulation. An important finding, however, was that patients without demonstrable DO on urodynamics may still have a positive response to sacral neuromodulation.

Circulating angiogenic factors and abnormal uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in the second trimester

Objective: Circulating angiogenic growth factors (such as vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and placental growth factor [PlGF]) and their interaction may be associated with vascular remodeling of spiral arteries in normal pregnancy. Soluble Flt-1, an antagonist of both VEGF and PlGF, has been shown to be increased, while PlGF is decreased in women prior to the onset of preeclampsia. The purpose of this study was to compare maternal soluble Flt-1 and PlGF levels in the second trimester with a marker of abnormal placentation, abnormal uterine artery Doppler (UAD). Method: A prospective cohort of women, 16 to 24 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA), with singleton pregnancies, underwent UAD and phlebotomy. Maternal soluble Flt-1 and free PlGF were measured by ELISA in samples from women with abnormal UAD with a group, controlled for EGA, with normal UAD. Mann-Whitney Rank-Sum test was used to compare maternal serum levels of both soluble Flt-1 and PlGF between women with abnormal uterine artery Doppler versus women with normal uterine artery Doppler. Results: Of the 222 study subjects enrolled, 34 (15%) had abnormal UAD. The mean EGA at enrollment of subjects in each group was 18 weeks. There was no difference in PlGF between subjects with abnormal UAD (median, 191 pg/mL; range, 187 to 337 pg/mL) versus controls (median, 171 pg/mL; range, 169 to 289 pg/mL) (p = 0.59) or soluble Flt-1 (median, 780 pg/mL; range, 280 to 3200 pg/mL) or between subjects with abnormal UAD versus controls (median, 720 pg/mL; range, 220 to 1980 pg/mL) (p = 0.36). Conclusion: Concentrations of maternal soluble Flt-1 and free PlGF in the second trimester do not appear to be altered in women with abnormal UAD. This suggests that these biochemical markers are independent of the increased placental resistance seen with abnormal uterine artery Doppler.