Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on molar pregnancy and postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the incidence and aggressiveness of molar pregnancy (MP) and postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Observational study with two separate designs: retrospective multicentre cohort of patients with MP/postmolar GTN and a cross-sectional analysis, with application of a questionnaire. SETTING: Six Brazilian Reference Centres on gestational trophoblastic disease. POPULATION: 2662 patients with MP/postmolar GTN treated from March-December/2015-2020 were retrospectively evaluated and 528 of these patients answered a questionnaire. METHODS: Longitudinal retrospective multicentre study of patients diagnosed with MP/ postmolar GTN at presentation and a cross-sectional analysis, with application of a questionnaire, exclusive to patients treated during the period of study, to assess living and health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence of MP/postmolar GTN. RESULTS: Compared with the last 5 pre-pandemic years, MP/postmolar GTN incidence remained stable during 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for the patient age, showed that during 2020, presentation with MP was more likely to be >10 weeks of gestation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.90-3.29, P < 0.001), have a pre-evacuation hCG level ≥100 000 iu/l (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.38-2.28, P < 0.001) and time to the initiation of chemotherapy ≥7 months (aOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.01-3.43, P = 0.047) when compared with 2015-2019. CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of MP/postmolar GTN remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, the pandemic was associated with greater gestational age at MP diagnosis and more protracted delays in initiation of chemotherapy for postmolar GTN.

Delivery care and the inadequacy of the obstetric care network in Pernambuco / Assistência ao parto e inadequação da rede de atenção obstétrica em Pernambuco

Abstract Objectives: this study aims to evaluate parturition distribution of live-born children within the First Health Regional Administration (GERES I) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil in 2012. Methods: live Birth Certificates were used to evaluate displacements between pregnant women's residential municipalities and birth localities. Flux maps were constructed to represent pregnant women transferred to Recife, and the estimated number of live-borns with high-risk and regular births was calculated for each municipality. Results: in 2012, only 50% of the births of live babies in the GERES I took place at the original residential municipality of the mother. In Recife, the number of childbirths was 1.5 times greater than expected for this year, with 56% representing non-residents. Eleven municipalities of the GERES I have maternity hospitals, however, none of these responded to the expected number of regular risk births. Conclusions: this disruption of the obstetric network leads to the disrespecting of women's right to know beforehand the place of childbirth and to create bonds with it. Municipalities perform fewer childbirths than expected, resulting in unnecessary transfers and the overloading of maternity hospitals in Recife.

Resumo Objetivos: saber o local onde irá ocorrer o parto é um direito da gestante no Brasil e uma estratégia de organização da rede de atenção obstétrica. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a distribuição dos partos dos nascidos vivos (NV) da Gerência Regional de Saúde (GERES) I do Estado de Pernambuco em 2012. Métodos: a partir das Declarações de Nascidos Vivos, foram investigados deslocamentos do município de residência da mãe e de ocorrência do parto. Foram construídos mapas de fluxo para o Recife e estimado o número esperado de NV com parto de risco habitual e de alto risco para os municípios da GERES I. Resultados: em 2012 apenas 50% dos NV da GERES I nasceram no município de residência da mãe. Em Recife ocorreram 1,5 vezes o número de partos esperados para o ano, sendo 56% de mães não residentes. Onze municípios da GERES I têm maternidade, mas nenhum responde ao volume esperado de partos de risco habitual. Conclusões: esta desestruturação da rede obstétrica viola o direito da mulher de saber com antecedência e construir vínculo com o local do parto. Alguns municípios da GERES I realizam menos partos do que o esperado, levando a transferências desnecessárias e a super-lotação das maternidades do Recife.