Pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology in morbidly obese patients: assessment of feto-maternal outcomes.

PURPOSE: To examine feto-maternal characteristics and outcomes of morbidly obese pregnant patients who conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART). METHODS: This cross-sectional study queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Study population was 48,365 patients with ART pregnancy from January 2012 to September 2015, including non-obesity (n = 45,125, 93.3%), class I-II obesity (n = 2445, 5.1%), and class III obesity (n = 795, 1.6%). Severe maternal morbidity at delivery per the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention definition was assessed with multivariable binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Patients in the class III obesity group were more likely to have a hypertensive disorder (adjusted-odds ratio (aOR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.61-3.52), diabetes mellitus (aOR 3.08, 95%CI 2.64-3.60), large for gestational age neonate (aOR 3.57, 95%CI 2.77-4.60), and intrauterine fetal demise (aOR 2.03, 95%CI 1.05-3.94) compared to those in the non-obesity group. Increased risks of hypertensive disease (aOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.60) and diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.39, 95%CI 1.17-1.66) in the class III obesity group remained robust even compared to the class I-II obesity group. After controlling for priori selected clinical, pregnancy, and delivery factors, patients with class III obesity were 70% more likely to have severe maternal morbidity at delivery compared to non-obese patients (8.2% vs 4.4%, aOR 1.70, 95%CI 1.30-2.22) whereas those with class I-II obesity were not (4.1% vs 4.4%, aOR 0.87, 95%CI 0.70-1.08). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this national-level analysis in the United States suggested that morbidly obese pregnant patients conceived with ART have increased risks of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes.

Contraception and sterilization selection at delivery among pregnant patients with malignancy.

INTRODUCTION: Since malignancy during pregnancy is uncommon, information regarding contraception selection or sterilization at delivery is limited. The objective of this study was to examine the type of long-acting reversible contraception or surgical sterilization procedure chosen by pregnant patients with malignancy at delivery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample in the USA. The study population was vaginal and cesarean deliveries in a hospital setting from January 2017 to December 2020. Pregnant patients with breast cancer (n = 1605), leukemia (n = 1190), lymphoma (n = 1120), thyroid cancer (n = 715), cervical cancer (n = 425) and melanoma (n = 400) were compared with 14 265 319 pregnant patients without malignancy. The main outcome measures were utilization of long-acting reversible contraception (subdermal implant or intrauterine device) and performance of permanent surgical sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral salpingectomy) during the index hospital admission for delivery, assessed with a multinomial regression model controlling for clinical, pregnancy and delivery characteristics. RESULTS: When compared with pregnant patients without malignancy, pregnant patients with breast cancer were more likely to proceed with bilateral salpingectomy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.30) or intrauterine device (aOR 1.91); none received the subdermal implant. Pregnant patients with leukemia were more likely to choose a subdermal implant (aOR 2.22), whereas those with lymphoma were more likely to proceed with bilateral salpingectomy (aOR 1.93) and bilateral tubal ligation (aOR 1.76). Pregnant patients with thyroid cancer were more likely to proceed with bilateral tubal ligation (aOR 2.21) and none received the subdermal implant. No patients in the cervical cancer group selected long-acting reversible contraception, and they were more likely to proceed with bilateral salpingectomy (aOR 2.08). None in the melanoma group chose long-acting reversible contraception. Among pregnant patients aged <30, the odds of proceeding with bilateral salpingectomy were increased in patients with breast cancer (aOR 3.01), cervical cancer (aOR 2.26) or lymphoma (aOR 2.08). The odds of proceeding with bilateral tubal ligation in pregnant patients aged <30 with melanoma (aOR 5.36) was also increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this nationwide assessment in the United States suggest that among pregnant patients with malignancy, the preferred contraceptive option or method of sterilization at time of hospital delivery differs by malignancy type.

Seasonal fluctuation of in vitro fertilization encounters in the United States.

PURPOSE: To examine patient and hospital characteristics related to seasonal fluctuation in in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined 33,077 oocyte retrievals identified in the National Ambulatory Surgery Sample. Exposure assignment was monthly IVF encounters: low-volume months (<25%ile), mid-volume months (≥25/<75%ile), and high-volume months (>75%ile). Main outcomes were patient and hospital characteristics related to the exposure groups, assessed with a multinomial regression model. RESULTS: The median IVF encounters were 977 per month, ranging from 657 to 1074 (absolute-difference 417). January, July, and December were the lowest-quartile volume months, ranging from 657 to 710 encounters per month (low-volume months). May, August, and November were the top-quartile volume months, ranging from 1049 to 1074 encounters per month (high-volume months). In a multivariable analysis, patients undergoing IVF in the low-volume months were younger and less likely to have infertility or comorbidities. Patients undergoing IVF in the high-volume months were more likely to have lower household income and receive IVF at urban teaching facilities. Northeastern residents were less likely to have IVF in the low-volume months but more likely to have IVF in the high-volume months. Sensitivity analyses showed that the lowest-to-highest variability in monthly IVF encounters was higher in Northeast region compared to other regions (320 vs 50-128); infertility patients compared to those without (317 vs 190); privately insured patients compared to self-pay (227 vs 156); and older patients compared to younger (234 vs 192). CONCLUSION: This study suggests substantial seasonal fluctuation in IVF oocyte retrieval in the USA based on patient and hospital factors.

Substantial variability in ovarian conservation at hysterectomy for endometrial hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Although ovarian conservation at hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease has demonstrated mortality benefit in young patients and this benefit may be sustained up to age 65 years, there is a scarcity of data regarding ovarian conservation in those with a diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia, a premalignant uterine condition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine patient, hospital, treatment, and histology characteristics related to ovarian conservation at the time of inpatient hysterectomy for endometrial hyperplasia. STUDY DESIGN: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample was retrospectively queried to examine patients aged ≤65 years with endometrial hyperplasia who had inpatient hysterectomy from January 2016 to December 2019. The exclusion criteria included concurrent gynecologic malignancy, adnexal pathology, and lymphadenectomy. Cases were grouped by adnexal surgery status (ovarian conservation or oophorectomy). A multivariable binary logistic regression model was used to identify independent characteristics for ovarian conservation. A classification tree was constructed with recursive partitioning analysis to examine utilization patterns of ovarian conservation. RESULTS: Overall, 3105 patients (31.1%) underwent ovarian conservation at hysterectomy among 9975 patients. The utilization of ovarian conservation decreased gradually until age 45 years and then markedly decreased by age 52 years (63.3%-15.3%; P<.001). In a multivariable analysis, younger age, non-White, urban nonteaching centers, and vaginal hysterectomy were associated with increased utilization of ovarian conservation, whereas endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, obesity, comorbidity, large bed capacity centers, and Midwest and South regions were associated with decreased utilization of ovarian conservation (all, P<.05). A classification tree identified 17 utilization patterns for ovarian conservation, ranging from 7.8% to 100.0% (absolute rate difference, 92.2%). CONCLUSION: The utilization of ovarian conservation at the time of inpatient hysterectomy in patients undergoing surgical management for endometrial hyperplasia started decreasing in their mid-40s and seemed to occur earlier than in benign hysterectomy. There was substantial variability in ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for endometrial hyperplasia based on patient, hospital, surgical, and histology factors, suggesting the possible benefit of clinical practice guidelines for ovarian conservation in this population.