Factors Associated with Maternal Morbidity among Black Women in the United States

OBJECTIVE

 Non-Hispanic Black people (NHBP) have a three-fold higher rate of maternal mortality compared to other racial groups. Racial disparities in maternal morbidity are well-described; however, there are substantial differences in cultural, economic, and social determinants of health among racial groups. We thus sought to study the at-risk, non-Hispanic Black population as its own cohort to identify factors most associated with severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

STUDY DESIGN

 This is a population-based retrospective case-control study of all live births in the United States between 2017 and 2019 using birth records obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. The primary outcome for this study was to determine demographic, social, medical, and obstetric factors associated with maternal morbidity among NHBP who did and did not experience an SMM event. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio between each individual factor and the outcome of SMM among NHBP.

RESULTS

 Of the 1,624,744 NHBP who delivered between 2017 and 2019, 1.1% experienced an SMM event defined as a composite of blood product transfusion, eclamptic seizure, intensive care unit admission, unplanned hysterectomy, and uterine rupture. The rates of these individual SMM events per 10,000 deliveries were 50, 40, 20, 5, and 4 among NHBP, respectively. Among NHBP, factors associated in multivariable regression analysis with SMM in order of strength of association included cesarean delivery, earlier gestational age at delivery, preeclampsia, induction of labor, chronic hypertension, prior preterm birth, lower educational attainment, multifetal gestation, advanced maternal age, pregestational diabetes, and cigarette smoking. The population attributable fraction for cesarean delivery, preterm birth, and pregnancy-induced hypertensive disease for the outcome of SMM were 0.46, 0.23, and 0.07, respectively.

CONCLUSION

 The three factors most associated with SMM among NHBP are potentially avoidable or modifiable by aggressive screening, prevention, and treatment of preeclampsia and preterm birth as well as reducing cesarean rates in this population.

KEY POINTS

· The rate of SMM in NHBP may be modifiable.. · NHBP have a three-fold higher rate of maternal mortality.. · Preeclampsia, preterm birth, and cesarean sections are most associated with maternal morbidity..

Endemic coronavirus infections are associated with strong homotypic immunity in a US cohort of children from birth to 4 years

BACKGROUND

The endemic coronaviruses OC43, HKU1, NL63 and 229E cause cold-like symptoms and are related to SARS-CoV-2, but their natural histories are poorly understood. In a cohort of children followed from birth to 4 years, we documented all coronavirus infections, including SARS-CoV-2, to understand protection against subsequent infections with the same virus (homotypic immunity) or a different coronavirus (heterotypic immunity).

METHODS

Mother-child pairs were enrolled in metropolitan Cincinnati during the third trimester of pregnancy in 2017-18. Mothers reported their child's socio-demographics, risk factors, and weekly symptoms. Mid-turbinate nasal swabs were collected weekly. Blood was collected at 6 weeks, 6, 12, 18, 24 months and annually thereafter. Infections were detected by testing nasal swabs by an RT-PCR multi-pathogen panel and by serum IgG responses. Health care visits were documented from pediatric records. Analysis was limited to 116 children with high sample adherence. Re-consent for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infections from June 2020 through November 2021 was obtained for 74 (64%) children.

RESULTS

We detected 345 endemic coronavirus infections (1.1 infections/child-year) and 21 SARS-CoV-2 infections (0.3 infections/child-year). Endemic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 infections were asymptomatic or mild. Significant protective homotypic immunity occurred after a single infection with OC43 (77%) and HKU1 (84%), and after two infections with NL63 (73%). No heterotypic protection against endemic coronaviruses or SARS-CoV-2 was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Natural coronavirus infections were common and resulted in strong homotypic immunity but not heterotypic immunity against other coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Endemic coronavirus and SARS-CoV-2 infections in this US cohort were typically asymptomatic or mild.

Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination and Prevention of Symptomatic Infection in Infants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Maternal vaccination may prevent infant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to quantify protection against infection from maternally derived vaccine-induced antibodies in the first 6 months of an infant's life.

METHODS

Infants born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy with 2 or 3 doses of a messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine (nonboosted or boosted, respectively) had full-length spike (Spike) immunoglobulin G (IgG), pseudovirus 614D, and live virus D614G, and omicron BA.1 and BA.5 neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers measured at delivery. Infant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was determined by verified maternal-report and laboratory confirmation through prospective follow-up to 6 months of age between December 2021 and July 2022. The risk reduction for infection by dose group and antibody titer level was estimated in separate models.

RESULTS

Infants of boosted mothers (n = 204) had significantly higher Spike IgG, pseudovirus, and live nAb titers at delivery than infants of nonboosted mothers (n = 271), and were 56% less likely to acquire infection in the first 6 months (P = .03). Irrespective of boost, for each 10-fold increase in Spike IgG titer at delivery, the infant's risk of acquiring infection was reduced by 47% (95% confidence interval 8%-70%; P = .02). Similarly, a 10-fold increase in pseudovirus titers against Wuhan Spike, and live virus nAb titers against D614G, and omicron BA.1 and BA.5 at delivery were associated with a 30%, 46%, 56%, and 60% risk reduction, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher transplacental binding and nAb titers substantially reduced the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants, and a booster dose amplified protection during a period of omicron predominance. Until infants are age-eligible for vaccination, maternal vaccination provides passive protection against symptomatic infection during early infancy.

Cardiac Abnormalities in Hispanic/Latina Women With Prior De Novo Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with long-term maternal risks for cardiovascular disease for reasons that remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

The HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos), a multi-center community-based cohort of Hispanic/Latino adults recruited 2008 to 2011, was used to evaluate the associations of history of de novo HDP (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia) with echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function in Hispanic/Latina women with ≥1 prior pregnancy and the proportion of association mediated by current hypertension (>140/90 mm Hg or antihypertensive therapy).

RESULTS.

The study cohort included 5168 Hispanic/Latina women with an average age (SD) of 58.7 (9.7) years at time of echocardiogram. Prior de novo HDP was reported by 724 (14%) of the women studied and was associated with lower left ventricle (LV) ejection fraction -0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.21 to -0.11), higher LV relative wall thickness 0.09 (95% CI, 0-0.18), and 1.39 (95% CI, 1.02-1.89) higher risk of abnormal LV geometry after adjusting for blood pressure and other confounders. The proportion of the association mediated by current hypertension between HDP and LV ejection fraction was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.03-0.45), LV relative wall thickness was 0.28 (95% CI, 0.16-0.51), abnormal LV geometry was 0.14 (95% CI, 0.12-0.48), concentric left ventricular hypertrophy was 0.31 (95% CI, 0.19-0.86), and abnormal LV diastolic dysfunction was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.26-0.79).

CONCLUSIONS.

In a large cohort of Hispanic/Latina women those with history of de novo HDP had detectable and measurable subclinical alterations in cardiac structure and both systolic and diastolic dysfunction that were only partially mediated by current hypertension.

The Combined Influence of Maternal Medical Conditions on the Risk of Primary Cesarean Delivery

Background  Common maternal medical comorbidities such as hypertensive disorders, diabetes, tobacco use, and extremes of maternal age, body mass index, and gestational weight gain are known individually to influence the rate of cesarean delivery. Numerous studies have estimated the risk of individual conditions on cesarean delivery. Objective  To examine the risk for primary cesarean delivery in women with multiple maternal medical comorbidities to determine the cumulative risk they pose on mode of delivery. Study Design  In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from Ohio live birth records from 2006 to 2015 to estimate the influence of individual and combinations of maternal comorbidities on rates of singleton primary cesarean delivery. The exposures were individual and combinations of maternal medical conditions (chronic hypertension [CHTN], gestational hypertension, pregestational diabetes, gestational diabetes, tobacco use, advanced maternal age, and maternal obesity) and outcomes were rates and adjusted relative risk (aRR) of primary cesarean delivery. Results  There were 1,463,506 live births in Ohio during the study period, of which 882,423 (60.3%) had one or more maternal medical condition, and of those 243,112 (27.6%) had primary cesarean delivery. The range of rates and aRR range of primary cesarean delivery were 13.9 to 29.3% (aRR 0.78-1.68) in singleton pregnancies with a single medical condition, and this increased to 21.9 to 48.6% (aRR 1.34-3.87) in pregnancies complicated by multiple medical comorbidities. The highest risk for primary cesarean occurred in advanced maternal age, obese women with pregestational diabetes, and CHTN. Conclusion  A greater number of maternal medical comorbidities during pregnancy is associated with increasing cumulative risk of primary cesarean delivery. These data may be useful in counseling patients on risk of cesarean during pregnancy.

Antigen-specific decidual CD8+ T cells include distinct effector memory and tissue-resident memory cells

Maternal decidual CD8+ T cells must integrate the antithetical demands of providing immunity to infection while maintaining immune tolerance for fetal and placental antigens. Human decidual CD8+ T cells were shown to be highly differentiated memory T cells with mixed signatures of dysfunction, activation, and effector function. However, no information is present on how specificity for microbial or fetal antigens relates to their function or dysfunction. In addition, a key question, whether decidual CD8+ T cells include unique tissue-resident memory T cells (Trm) or also effector memory T cell (Tem) types shared with peripheral blood populations, is unknown. Here, high-dimensional flow cytometry of decidual and blood CD8+ T cells identified 2 Tem populations shared in blood and decidua and 9 functionally distinct Trm clusters uniquely found in decidua. Interestingly, fetus- and virus-specific decidual CD8+ Trm cells had similar features of inhibition and cytotoxicity, with no significant differences in their expression of activation, inhibitory, and cytotoxic molecules, suggesting that not all fetus-specific CD8+ T cell responses are suppressed at the maternal-fetal interface. Understanding how decidual CD8+ T cell specificity relates to their function and tissue residency is crucial in advancing understanding of their contribution to placental inflammation and control of congenital infections.

Gestational Age and Birth Outcomes in Term Singleton Pregnancies Conceived With Infertility Treatment

Importance

Despite the increased perinatal risks associated with pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment, there are no recommendations for timing of delivery among this at-risk population.

Objective

To identify the gestational age at which the ongoing risks of stillbirth are optimally balanced with the risks of neonatal comorbidities and infant deaths in term singleton pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used birth and death data from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, in the US obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. Singleton pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment delivered at term (37-42 weeks' gestation) were eligible for inclusion. The exclusion criteria were deliveries at less than 37 weeks' or at least 43 weeks' gestation and pregnancies with unknown history of infertility treatment, congenital anomalies, pregestational diabetes, pregestational hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia. Data were analyzed from July 22, 2022, to June 24, 2023.

Exposure

Gestational age at delivery between 37 and 42 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was optimal timing of delivery. To ascertain this timing, the risk of delivery (rate of neonatal morbidity and infant death) at a given gestational week was compared with the risk of delivery in the subsequent week of gestation for an additional week (rate of stillbirth during the given week per 10 000 ongoing pregnancies plus rate of neonatal morbidity and infant death in the subsequent week of gestation per 10 000 deliveries). The rates of stillbirth, neonatal morbidity, and infant death (within 1 year of life) were compared at each week. Neonatal morbidity included an Apgar score of 3 or lower at 5 minutes, requirement of ventilation for 6 hours or more, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and seizures.

Results

Of the 178 448 singleton term pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment (maternal mean [SD] age, 34.2 [5.2] years; mean [SD] gestational age, 39.2 [1.2] weeks; 130 786 [73.5%] were non-Hispanic White patients). The risk of delivery in the subsequent week of gestation was lower than the risk of delivery at both 37 weeks (628 [95% CI, 601-656] vs 1005 [95% CI, 961-1050] per 10 000 live births) and 38 weeks (483 [95% CI, 467-500 vs 625 [95% CI, 598-652] per 10 000 live births). The risks of delivery in subsequent week of gestation significantly exceeded the risk of delivery at 39 weeks (599 [95% CI, 576-622] vs 479 [95% CI, 463-495] per 10 000 live births) and were not significant at 40 weeks (639 [95% CI, 605-675] vs 594 [95% CI, 572-617] per 10 000 live births) and 41 weeks (701 [95% CI, 628-781] vs 633 [95% CI, 599-669] per 10 000 live births).

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study suggest that, in pregnancies conceived with infertility treatment, delivery at 39 weeks provided the lowest perinatal risk when comparing risk of delivery at this week of gestation vs the subsequent week of gestation.

The SunBEAm birth cohort: Protocol design

Background

Food allergy (FA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common conditions that often present in the first year of life. Identification of underlying mechanisms and environmental determinants of FA and AD is essential to develop and implement effective prevention and treatment strategies. Objectives: We sought to describe the design of the Systems Biology of Early Atopy (SunBEAm) birth cohort.

Methods

Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and administered through the Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), SunBEAm is a US population-based, multicenter birth cohort that enrolls pregnant mothers, fathers, and their newborns and follows them to 3 years. Questionnaire and biosampling strategies were developed to apply a systems biology approach to identify environmental, immunologic, and multiomic determinants of AD, FA, and other allergic outcomes.

Results

Enrollment is currently underway. On the basis of an estimated FA prevalence of 6%, the enrollment goal is 2500 infants. AD is defined on the basis of questionnaire and assessment, and FA is defined by an algorithm combining history and testing. Although any FA will be recorded, we focus on the diagnosis of egg, milk, and peanut at 5 months, adding wheat, soy, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, codfish, shrimp, and sesame starting at 12 months. Sampling includes blood, hair, stool, dust, water, tape strips, skin swabs, nasal secretions, nasal swabs, saliva, urine, functional aspects of the skin, and maternal breast milk and vaginal swabs.

Conclusions

The SunBEAm birth cohort will provide a rich repository of data and specimens to interrogate mechanisms and determinants of early allergic outcomes, with an emphasis on FA, AD, and systems biology.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome recipient with arterial calcification and heterozygous variant in ABCC6: Evidence of a gene-environment interaction?

We report a case of a twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) recipient who, after successful fetoscopic surgery, developed a large pericardial effusion and calcifications of the aorta and main pulmonary artery. The donor fetus never had cardiac strain and never developed cardiac calcifications. A heterozygous likely pathogenic variant in ABCC6 (c.2018T>C, p.Leu673Pro) was identified in the recipient twin. While TTTS recipient twins are at risk of arterial calcifications and right heart failure secondary to the disease, calcifications of the great vessels are also observed in general calcification of infancy (GACI), a Mendelian genetic disorder with associated biallelic pathogenic variations in ABCC6 or ENPP1, which can result in significant pediatric morbidity or mortality. The recipient twin in this case had some degree of cardiac strain prior to TTTS surgery; however, the progressive calcification of the aorta and pulmonary trunk occurred weeks after resolution of the TTTS. This case raises the possibility of a gene-environment interaction and emphasizes the need for genetic evaluation in the setting of TTTS and calcifications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Food Insecurity in an Urban Pregnancy Cohort

OBJECTIVE

Food insecurity is a prominent problem and has been implicated in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study aims to describe the food insecure population in an urban academic health center perinatal cohort.

STUDY DESIGN

We enrolled 451 postpartum inpatients at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who completed a questionnaire and were then categorized as food insecure based on U.S. Department of Agriculture standardized survey questions. Generalized linear models estimated the relative influence of maternal characteristics on food insecurity.

RESULTS

Among the study population (n = 426), 18.6% (95% confidence interval: 15.2-22.4%) were classified as food insecure. Factors with increased adjusted relative risk on food insecurity include annual household income <$40,000, obesity, and smoking. Food insecure women also reported lower levels of love, satisfaction, and joy, and higher levels of despair.

CONCLUSION

We recommend the use of a validated screening tool on all pregnant women with the associated psychosocial stressors and social determinants of health.

KEY POINTS

· Food insecurity is prevalent among pregnant women.. · Nearly one in five women (18.6%) in the study cohort were classified as food insecure.. · Food insecure pregnant women were more likely to have additional risks for adverse health outcomes..

COVID-19 booster vaccination during pregnancy enhances maternal binding and neutralizing antibody responses and transplacental antibody transfer to the newborn (DMID 21-0004)

IMPORTANCE

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended during pregnancy for the protection of the mother. Little is known about the immune response to booster vaccinations during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To measure immune responses to COVID-19 primary and booster mRNA vaccination during pregnancy and transplacental antibody transfer to the newborn.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study of pregnant participants enrolled from July 2021 to January 2022, with follow up through and up to 12 months after delivery.

SETTING

Multicenter study conducted at 9 academic sites.

PARTICIPANTS

Pregnant participants who received COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and their newborns.

EXPOSURES

Primary or booster COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers after primary or booster COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy and antibody transfer to the newborn. Immune responses were compared between primary and booster vaccine recipients in maternal sera at delivery and in cord blood, after adjusting for days since last vaccination.

RESULTS

In this interim analysis, 167 participants received a primary 2-dose series and 73 received a booster dose of mRNA vaccine during pregnancy. Booster vaccination resulted in significantly higher binding and nAb titers, including to the Omicron BA.1 variant, in maternal serum at delivery and cord blood compared to a primary 2-dose series (range 0.55 to 0.88 log ₁₀ higher, p<0.0001 for all comparisons). Although levels were significantly lower than to the prototypical D614G variant, nAb to Omicron were present at delivery in 9% (GMT ID50 12.7) of Pfizer and 22% (GMT ID50 14.7) of Moderna recipients, and in 73% (GMT ID50 60.2) of boosted participants (p<0.0001). Transplacental antibody transfer was efficient regardless of vaccination regimen (median transfer ratio range: 1.55-1.77 for binding IgG and 1.00-1.78 for nAb).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy elicited robust immune responses in mothers and efficient transplacental antibody transfer to the newborn. A booster dose during pregnancy significantly increased maternal and cord blood antibody levels, including against Omicron.Findings support continued use of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, including booster doses.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinical trials.gov; Registration Number: NCT05031468 ; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05031468.

KEY POINTS

Question: What is the immune response after COVID-19 booster vaccination during pregnancy and how does receipt of a booster dose impact transplacental antibody transfer to the newborn?Findings: Receipt of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines during pregnancy elicited robust binding and neutralizing antibody responses in the mother and in the newborn. Booster vaccination during pregnancy elicited significantly higher antibody levels in mothers at delivery and cord blood than 2-dose vaccination, including against the Omicron BA.1 variant.Meaning: COVID-19 vaccines, especially booster doses, should continue to be strongly recommended during pregnancy.

Multi-site observational maternal and infant COVID-19 vaccine study (MOMI-vax): a study protocol

Background

Pregnant women were excluded from investigational trials of COVID-19 vaccines. Limited data are available to inform pregnant and postpartum women on their decisions to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods

The goal of this observational, prospective cohort study is to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of various Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or licensed COVID-19 vaccines administered to pregnant or lactating women and describe the transplacental antibody transfer and kinetics of antibodies in mothers and infants. The study is adaptive, allowing additional groups to be added as new vaccines or vaccine regimens are authorized. Up to 20 clinical research institutions in the United States (U.S.) will be included. Approximately 200 pregnant women and 65 postpartum women will be enrolled per EUA or licensed COVID-19 vaccine formulation in the U.S. This study will include pregnant and postpartum women of all ages with and without chronic medical conditions. Their infants will be enrolled and followed beginning at birth in the pregnant cohort and beginning at the earliest possible time point in the postpartum cohort. Blood samples will be collected for immunogenicity outcomes and pregnancy and birth outcomes assessed among women and infants. Primary analyses will be descriptive and done by vaccine type and/or platform.

Discussion

Given the long-standing and legitimate challenges of enrolling pregnant individuals into clinical trials early in the vaccine development pipeline, this study protocol describes our current study and provides a template to inform the collection of data for pregnant individuals receiving COVID-19 or other vaccines.

Trial registration

NCT05031468.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04500-w.

Influence of Medicaid expansion on short interpregnancy interval rates in the United States

BACKGROUND

Short interpregnancy intervals have been associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes. Contraception access could affect the short interpregnancy interval rates.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of Medicaid on short interpregnancy intervals. We tested the hypothesis that Medicaid expansion and subsequent access to birth control would be associated with decreased short interpregnancy intervals.

STUDY DESIGN

Using the United States birth certificate data, we performed a population-based retrospective cohort study including multiparous women who had live births in 2012 and 2016, which is before and after Medicaid expansion had been implemented in 2014. Multivariate logistic regression estimated the influence of Medicaid expansion on short interpregnancy intervals (<12 months). The rate differences of short interpregnancy intervals in 2012 and 2016 were compared between Medicaid expansion vs non-Medicaid expansion states.

RESULTS

There were a total of 7,916,908 live births in 2012 and 2016 in the United States, of which 3,362,904 (42.5%) were in multiparous women with data on interpregnancy intervals (n=1,961,683 [58.3%]) in Medicaid expansion states and in non-Medicaid expansion states (n=1,401,221 [41.7%]). The rate of short interpregnancy intervals in the United States was slightly lower in 2016 (17.3%) than in 2012 (17.4%), P=.0006; rate difference 0.13% (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.20). Short interpregnancy intervals occurred more frequently in non-Medicaid expansion states than in Medicaid expansion states in both 2012 (18.1% vs 16.6%, respectively; P<.001) and 2016 (18.1% vs 16.4%, respectively; P<.001). The rate of short interpregnancy intervals decreased by 0.11% (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.22) in Medicaid expansion states and increased by 0.04% (95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.17) in non-Medicaid expansion states. In 2016, living in a Medicaid expansion state was associated with a modestly decreased risk of short interpregnancy intervals (adjusted relative risk, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-0.98), even after adjustment for coexisting risks.

CONCLUSION

The risk of short interpregnancy intervals decreased in the Medicaid expansion states even after adjusting for risk factors. Moreover, the short interpregnancy interval rates increased in nonexpansion states but decreased in Medicaid expansion states. If non-Medicaid expansion states had experienced the same rate of decrease in short interpregnancy intervals as Medicaid expansion states, 1122 fewer women would have had a short interpregnancy interval in 2016. Considering the known association between short interpregnancy intervals and adverse maternal and infant outcomes, these findings indicate that Medicaid expansion could improve perinatal outcomes.

Influence of Gestational Weight Gain on the Risk of Preterm Birth for Underweight Women Living in Food Deserts

OBJECTIVE

Preterm birth (PTB) and food insecurity are two of the most significant public health crises in the United States. Effects of being underweight among populations with low food security are not well understood. We assess whether the protective effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) for women with low prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) differs by accessibility to sources of healthy food.

STUDY DESIGN

Population-based retrospective cohort study using Ohio birth records analyzing all live births, 2006 to 2015. Analyses were stratified by maternal BMI (underweight, normal, overweight, and obese), Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended GWG (under vs. met), and whether the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) classified the residential census tract for each birth as a food desert. Food access data were retrieved from the USDA's 2018 Food Access Research Atlas. Covariates were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. Logistic regression models estimated the risk ratio (RR) of PTB for each group based on under or exceeded recommended GWG (reference = met), adjusting for coexisting risk factors.

RESULTS

Analysis was performed on 1,124,299 births. PTB risk was highest for underweight women below GWG recommendations (no food desert: 21.3%, RR = 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.81-2.57; food desert: 21.0%, RR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.96-2.21). Underweight women living in food deserts who exceeded GWG recommendations had lower PTB risk than those who met GWG recommendations (13.5 vs. 14.3%, RR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.51-1.41). Factors other than GWG significantly associated with PTB included in the adjusted analysis include maternal age and race, education, marital status, interpregnancy interval, and presence of prepregnancy diabetes or hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Underweight women who do not meet GWG recommendations are at high risk for PTB. Increasing pregnancy weight gain to a level that exceeds IOM recommendations was not associated with a reduction in PTB risk for underweight women who reside in food deserts compared with women who met GWG recommendations.

KEY POINTS

· Women with low prepregnancy BMI are at high risk of PTB.. · Food insecurity increases the risk of PTB for underweight women.. · Excessive GWG for underweight women in food deserts does not reduce PTB risk..

Persistence of Maternal Anti-Rotavirus Immunoglobulin G in the Post-Rotavirus Vaccine Era

To assess whether titers of anti-rotavirus immunoglobulin G persist during the post-rotavirus vaccine era, the Pediatric Respiratory and Enteric Virus Acquisition and Immunogenesis Longitudinal (PREVAIL) Cohort analyzed serum samples collected from Cincinnati-area mothers and young infants in 2017-2018. Rotavirus-specific antibodies continue to be transferred from US mothers to their offspring in the post-rotavirus vaccine era, despite dramatic decreases in childhood rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Breastfeeding Disparities and Their Mediators in an Urban Birth Cohort of Black and White Mothers

Background: Black mothers in the United States have shorter breastfeeding (BF) durations and less exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) than others. The factors underlying these disparities require investigation. Methods: Using longitudinal data from a CDC-sponsored birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio, we analyzed the factors mediating racial disparity in BF outcomes. Study mothers were enrolled in prenatal clinics associated with two large birth hospitals. Analysis was restricted to racial groups with sufficient numbers in the cohort, non-Hispanic Black (n = 92) and White (n = 113) mothers, followed to at least 6 months postpartum. Results: Black mothers were 25 times more likely to reside in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods and 20 times more likely to have an annual household income <$50,000/year than White mothers (p < 0.001). The gap in EBF for 6 weeks was 45 percentage points by racial group (13%-Black mothers versus 58%-White mothers, p < 0.001); in any BF at 6 months was 37 percentage points (28%-Black mothers versus 65%-White mothers, p < 0.001); and in mothers meeting their own intention to BF at least 6 months was 51 percentage points (29%-Black mothers versus 80%-White mothers, p < 0.001). Racial disparity in EBF at 6 weeks was mediated in logistic regression models by inequities in socioeconomic position, maternal hypertension, and BF intention. Racial disparities in BF at 6 months or meeting 6-month BF intention were mediated by inequities in socioeconomic position, maternal obesity, and EBF at 6 weeks. Not all BF disparities could be explained by models used in these analyses. Conclusions: Efforts to lessen BF disparities should address the underlying structural inequities that disproportionately affect Black mothers and children, should incorporate maternal health, and focus on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration. Few Black mothers achieved EBF at 6 weeks, which contributed to disparity in BF duration. Greater attention to Black mother-infant pairs is a public health priority.

Universal transvaginal cervical length screening during pregnancy increases the diagnostic incidence of low-lying placenta and placenta previa

BACKGROUND

Universal transvaginal cervical length screening has been increasingly implemented with both positive and negative consequences.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we described the diagnostic incidence of low-lying placenta and placenta previa with the implementation of universal transvaginal cervical length screening.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing midtrimester universal transvaginal cervical length screening. The primary outcome was the rate of transvaginal diagnosis of low-lying placenta or placenta previa using midtrimester universal transvaginal cervical length screening.

RESULTS

This study included 1982 midtrimester ultrasounds, of which 211 indicated a low-lying placenta or placenta previa on either transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound. With transvaginal ultrasound, a low-lying placenta or placenta previa was diagnosed in 211 women (10.6% of the study population). Of the 211 patients with a low-lying placenta or placenta previa, 90 (42.6%) had a false-negative result, diagnosed using only transvaginal ultrasound; 112 (53.1%) had a true-positive result; and 9 (4.3%) had a false-positive result. The relative risk of having an abnormal finding on ultrasound with the addition of universal transvaginal cervical length screening was 9.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.6-18.1). Of the low-lying placenta or placenta previa diagnosed using midtrimester universal transvaginal cervical length screening, 98.9% resolved (95% confidence interval, 93.7-99.97).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of universal transvaginal cervical length screening increases the diagnostic incidence of low-lying placenta or placenta previa without an increase in the diagnoses that persist to term, which comes at the cost of increased follow-up ultrasounds and potentially increased anxiety for the patient.

Time required to complete transvaginal cervical length in women receiving universal cervical length screening for preterm birth prevention

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth contributes to over one-third of infant deaths, and although there are several risk factors for preterm birth few tests predict this obstetric complication. Midtrimester transvaginal cervical length (TVCL) screening is currently the best clinical predictor of spontaneous preterm birth and has been suggested to be applied universally. Although several studies have examined the cost-efficacy of universal screening, the time consumption and resultant time management has not been examined.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to quantitate the time requirement for transvaginal cervical length (TVCL) screening with the implementation of universal TVCL screening.

Study design: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing cervical length screening after implementation of universal Transvaginal Cervical Length (TVCL) screening at a university setting over a 1-year period. The primary outcome was time in minutes for TVCL screening from completion of transabdominal to completion of transvaginal ultrasound.

RESULTS

This study included 2803 ultrasounds, 1673 of which involved completion of a TVCL after completion of abdominal imaging between 16 0/7 and 23 6/7 weeks of gestation. The mean duration of cervical length screening was 9.8 min (standard deviation [SD], 4.0 min). The time range was less than 1 min to 48 min. For women obtaining cervical lengths, 4.2% required less than 5 additional minutes to perform cervical length screening, 52.1% (872), required less than 10 additional minutes. The majority, 91.8%, of ultrasounds required less than 15 min to complete. Ultrasounds performed in private practice sites required less time compared to those at teaching sites (8.2 ± 3.1 min versus 10.2 ± 4.1 min, p < .001). No significant time improvement occurred after 6 months of universal TVCL screening, with the first 6 months average of 10.1 min versus 9.6 min in the later half, p = .61.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a universal TVCL program adds an average of 10 min to each ultrasound exam. This additional time does diminish with increasing experience with TVCL, but not to a significant degree.

Regional and practitioner variations in reporting infant mortality

Objective: Assess regional differences in categorization of preterm delivery outcomes and impact on variation in reported infant mortality rates.Study design: A 27-item questionnaire was distributed to 1072 practitioners associated with U.S. birth hospitals. Five clinical scenarios were created to identify how participants classify delivery outcomes. Statistical analysis included Chi-square analysis and multinomial logistic regression.Results: 234 questionnaires were completed (response rate 22%). While >90% respondents classified a 14-week pregnancy loss with no sign of life as a miscarriage, only 22% would provide a fetal death certificate. Likewise, 37% would provide a certificate of live birth for a loss at 16 weeks with signs of life. There was notable regional variation in classifying these as live births (Northeast: 41%, Midwest: 44%, South: 13%, and West: 18%, p = .003).Conclusion: Regional practice variation in recording both live births and stillbirths was noted. Greater standardization in reporting practices may be warranted to improve the accuracy of reported birth outcomes in the U.S.

Reproductive Outcomes following Laser Surgery for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

BACKGROUND

There are limited studies describing future reproductive outcomes in women who have had selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

OBJECTIVE

Our study aims to compare reproductive outcomes following monochorionic multiple gestational pregnancies complicated by TTTS requiring SFLP to those not requiring SFLP.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study that analyzed records of patients who were evaluated at the Cincinnati Fetal Center (2007-2014) for monochorionic multiple gestations. A questionnaire regarding reproductive, obstetric, gynecologic, and psychological outcomes following the index pregnancy was administered to consented participants by electronic distribution. The data was compared between pregnancies with prior SFLP versus no prior SFLP.

RESULTS

There was a higher response rate in the SFLP group (219/474, 46.2%) versus the referent group (62/187, 33.2%). The median interval between the index pregnancy and survey completion was 74 months and 46 months in the SFLP and referent groups, respectively. Approximately 38 and 37% of the women in the SFLP and referent groups attempted conception after the index pregnancy with a >90% pregnancy success rate in both groups. Use of assisted reproductive technology was highly prevalent in both the index and subsequent pregnancies, with no significant difference between the groups. Over 60% of the women in each group did not attempt future pregnancy. Of those, approximately 1 in 3 cited the outcome of the index pregnancy as the primary reason for not pursuing future conception. There were no significant differences in selected maternal-fetal complications and new-onset gynecologic problems. More than 1 in 4 women in both groups were diagnosed with a mental health disorder following the index pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

SFLP does not appear to be associated with adverse reproductive, obstetric, or gynecologic outcomes. The data may help facilitate evidence-based counseling for this patient population.

Contribution of previable births to infant mortality rate racial disparity in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To quantify racial differences in contribution of previable live births (<20 weeks gestational age (GA)) to United States (US) Infant Mortality Rates (IMR).

METHODS

Population-based retrospective cohort of US live births (2007-14) using CDC WONDER database stratified by maternal race/ethnicity. We compared the contribution of previable births to IMR and calculated modified IMRs (≥20 weeks GA) excluding previable live births in each group. Contingency tables and chi-square calculations were performed to detect differences between groups.

RESULTS

Previable deaths represented 4.1%, 7.7%, and 5.0% of total deaths for nonHispanic white, nonHispanic black, and Hispanic, respectively. Previable contribution to total IMR are 0.21, 0.89, and 0.26 per 1000 live births (P < 0.0001). Modified IMRs are 4.98, 10.85, and 4.69 deaths per 1000 live births.

CONCLUSION

IMR standardization with a minimum GA may obscure the disproportionate contribution of previable births to IMRs among the black population, which has the largest proportion of previable births.

Predictors of breastfeeding non-initiation in the NICU

This study compared predictors of breastfeeding non-initiation between infants who were and were not admitted to the NICU so that interventions can target high-risk mothers whose infants desperately need breastmilk. This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of singleton Ohio live births using birth certificates, 2006-2015. In babies who were and were not admitted to the NICU, a multivariable logistic regression model assessed the association between breastfeeding non-initiation and predictors relating to the mother, neonate, and labour and delivery events while adjusting for covariables. Of 1,463,506 births, 76,855 infants were admitted to the NICU (5.8% of study population), and breastfeeding was not initiated in 39.4% of them, compared with 31.5% of infants in the newborn nursery, p < 0.001. Apart from abnormal newborn conditions, smoking during pregnancy was the most significant risk factor for not breastfeeding in the NICU (RR 1.91 [95% CI 1.82-2.02]) and newborn nursery (RR 2.10 [95% CI 2.08-2.13]), followed by socioeconomic factors and multiparity. Limited prenatal visits (≤5) were a significantly higher risk factor in the NICU (RR 1.41 [95% CI 1.34-1.49]) than in the newborn nursery (RR 1.24 [95% CI 1.22-1.26]). Intentional home birth and use of infertility treatment were associated with breastfeeding initiation. The rate of breastfeeding initiation is lower in infants admitted to the NICU than those who are not, especially among mothers with limited prenatal care. Interventions should target mothers who smoke because they are least likely to breastfeed, and their babies, who are prone to serious health conditions, could especially benefit from breastmilk.

Trimester specific PM2.5 exposure and fetal growth in Ohio, 2007-2010

BACKGROUND

Exposure to particulate matter, particularly with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm (PM_2.5), may increase inflammation and oxidative stress in pregnant women and affect fetal growth. We examined trimester specific PM_2.5 exposure levels and small for gestational age (SGA) using the statewide birth registry of Ohio from 2007 to 2010.

METHODS

Exposure to PM_2.5 in each trimester and for each gestational week was determined using data from 57 Environmental Protection Agency network monitoring stations across the state of Ohio. We restricted the data to 224,921 singleton live births, with a gestational age of 20-42 weeks, no genetic disorders or congenital abnormalities, and who had home addresses within a 10 km radius of any PM_2.5 monitoring station. We estimated odds ratios of SGA using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Distributed Lag Models (DLMs), and adjustment for maternal age, race, education, parity, body mass index, insurance type, tobacco use, prenatal care initiation, birth year, season of birth, and sex of the baby.

RESULTS

Mean PM_2.5 levels during the entire pregnancy were 13.03 µg/m³ with a standard deviation of 1.57 µg/m³. Covariates adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 levels with a 10 km buffer radius for SGA and trimesters modeled separately were 0.94 (0.88, 1.00) for the first trimester, 0.93 (0.86, 1.00) for the second trimester, 1.07 (1.00, 1.15) for the third trimester, and 0.92 (0.81, 1.06) for the entire pregnancy. When a 5 km buffer radius was used, adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for SGA were 0.97 (0.89, 1.05) for the first trimester, 0.96 (0.88, 1.05) for the second trimester, 1.09 (1.02, 1.17) for the third trimester, and 0.99 (0.85, 1.14) for the overall pregnancy, indicating sensitivity to buffer choice. DLMs showed gestational weeks 30-35 to be a particular window of vulnerability.

CONCLUSION

Increasing exposure to PM_2.5 during the third trimester of pregnancy was associated with a small increase in risk of SGA in this population-based study. Selection of a buffer radius significantly impacted our results in the first trimester, but not in the third trimester.