Maternal physical activity, sitting, and risk of non-cardiac birth defects.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between maternal physical activity (PA)/sitting and birth defects is largely unexplored. We examined whether pre-pregnancy PA/sitting were associated with having a pregnancy affected by a birth defect. METHODS: We used data from two United States population-based case-control studies: 2008-2011 deliveries from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS; 9 states) and 2014-2018 deliveries from the Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS; 7 states). Cases with one of 12 non-cardiac birth defects (n = 3798) were identified through population-based registries. Controls (n = 2682) were live-born infants without major birth defects randomly sampled using vital/hospital records. Mothers self-reported pre-pregnancy PA/sitting. Unconditional logistic regression models estimated associations between PA/sitting categories and the 12 birth defects. RESULTS: Mothers engaging in pre-pregnancy PA was associated with a reduced odds of five (spina bifida, cleft palate, anorectal atresia, hypospadias, transverse limb deficiency) and a higher odds of two (anencephaly, gastroschisis) birth defects. Mothers spending less time sitting in pre-pregnancy was associated with a reduced odds of two (anorectal atresia, hypospadias) and a higher odds of one (cleft lip with or without cleft palate) birth defect. CONCLUSIONS: Reasonable next steps include replication of these findings, improved exposure assessment, and elucidation of biologic mechanisms. IMPACT: Using data from two population-based case-control studies, we found that mothers engaging in different types of physical activity in the 3 months before pregnancy had an infant with a reduced odds of five and a higher odds of two birth defects. Mothers spending less time sitting in the 3 months before pregnancy had an infant with a reduced odds of two and a higher odds of one birth defect. Clarification and confirmation from additional studies are needed using more precise exposure measures, distinguishing occupational from leisure-time physical activity, and elucidation of mechanisms supporting these associations.

Early Neonatal Mortality among Babies Born with Spina Bifida in Finland (2000-2014).

OBJECTIVE: We examined early neonatal mortality risk, temporal trends, and selected infant and maternal factors associated with early neonatal mortality among all spina bifida-affected live births in Finland. STUDY DESIGN: We linked multiregistry population-based data from the national registers in Finland for infants born with spina bifida from 2000 to 2014. Early neonatal mortality was defined as death in 0 to 6 days after birth. Early neonatal mortality risk and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated by using the Poisson approximation of binomial distribution. Poisson regression was used to examine temporal trend in early neonatal mortality from 2000 to 2014 for spina bifida cases and all births in Finland. Selected infant and maternal characteristics were compared between cases that experienced early neonatal mortality and cases that did not. Exact logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted odds ratios (uORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 181 babies were born alive with spina bifida in Finland during the study period; 61% had isolated spina bifida. Pooling all study years, 7.2% (95% CI: 4.2-12.4%) of all live-born cases experienced early neonatal death. There was a significant increase in early neonatal mortality among spina bifida births over the study period (p < 0.0001). Low gestational age (<37 weeks; uOR = 6.96; 95% CI: 1.86-29.01), cases occurring as a part of a syndrome (uOR = 125.67; 95% CI: 14.90 to >999.999), and advanced maternal age at gestation (≥35 years; uOR = 5.33; 95% CI: 1.21-21.87) were positively associated with early neonatal mortality. CONCLUSION: Using national data from Finland, we found high early neonatal mortality with increasing trend over birth period spanning 15 years (2000-2014), and unadjusted positive associations with some infant and maternal factors. Future studies should pool data from Nordic countries to increase study size allowing multivariable analysis. KEY POINTS: · Early neonatal mortality in babies affected by spina bifida is 7% in Finland.. · Early neonatal mortality trend showed a significant increase from 2000 to 2014.. · Low gestational age, syndrome case status, and advanced maternal age increased early neonatal mortality risk in spina bifida..

Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis among Transfusion and Transplant Recipients in the United States.

Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are emerging tickborne diseases that can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or organ transplants. Since 2000, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis cases in the United States have increased substantially, resulting in potential risk to transplant and transfusion recipients. We reviewed ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis cases among blood transfusion and solid organ transplant recipients in the United States from peer-reviewed literature and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigations. We identified 132 cases during 1997-2020, 12 transfusion-associated cases and 120 cases in transplant recipients; 8 cases were donor-derived, and in 13 cases illness occurred <1 year after transplant. Disease in the remaining 99 cases occurred ≥1 year after transplant, suggesting donor-derived disease was unlikely. Severe illness or death were reported among 15 transfusion and transplant recipients. Clinicians should be alert for these possible infections among transfusion and transplant recipients to prevent severe complications or death by quickly treating them.

Transfusion-related adverse reactions: Data from the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module - United States, 2013-2018.

BACKGROUND: Despite current blood safety measures, transfusion recipients can experience transfusion-related adverse reactions. Monitoring these reactions can aid in understanding the effectiveness of current transfusion safety measures. Data from the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module were used to quantify adverse reaction risk. METHODS: Facilities reporting at least one month of transfused blood components and transfusion-related adverse reactions during January 2013-December 2018 were included. Adverse reaction rates (number per 100,000 components transfused) were calculated for transfused components stratified by component type, collection, and modification methods. RESULTS: During 2013-2018, 201 facilities reported 18,308 transfusion-related adverse reactions among 8.34 million blood components transfused (220/100,000). Adverse reactions were higher among apheresis (486/100,000) and pathogen-reduced platelets (579/100,000) than apheresis red blood cells (197/100,000). Allergic reactions (41%) were most common. There were 23 fatalities and 9% of all adverse reactions were serious (severe, life-threatening, or fatal). Reactions involving pulmonary complications (transfusion-associated circulatory overload, transfusion-related acute lung injury and transfusion-associated dyspnea) accounted for 35% of serious reactions but 65% of fatalities. Most (76%) of the 37 transfusion-transmitted infections were serious; none involved pathogen-reduced components. CONCLUSIONS: One in 455 blood components transfused was associated with an adverse reaction although the risk of serious reactions (1 in 6224) or transfusion-transmitted infections (1 in 225,440) was lower. Some serious reactions identified were preventable, suggesting additional safety measures may be beneficial. Higher reaction rates identified among pathogen-reduced platelets require further study. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring reactions through national hemovigilance to inform current safety measures and the need for strategies to increase healthcare facility participation.

Supplemental findings of the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Supplemental data from the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) are presented and include findings on donor characteristics, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, platelets (PLTs), plasma and granulocyte transfusions, pediatric transfusions, transfusion-associated adverse events, cost of blood units, hospital policies and practices, and implementation of blood safety measures, including pathogen reduction technology (PRT). METHODS: National estimates were produced using weighting and imputation methods for a number of donors, donations, donor deferrals, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, PLT and plasma collections and transfusions, a number of crossmatch procedures, a number of units irradiated and leukoreduced, pediatric transfusions, and transfusion-associated adverse events. RESULTS: Between 2017 and 2019, there was a slight decrease in successful donations by 1.1%. Donations by persons aged 16-18 decreased by 10.1% while donations among donors >65 years increased by 10.5%. From 2017 to 2019, the median price paid for blood components by hospitals for leukoreduced red blood cell units, leukoreduced apheresis PLT units, and for fresh frozen plasma units continued to decrease. The rate of life-threatening transfusion-related adverse reactions continued to decrease. Most whole blood/red blood cell units (97%) and PLT units (97%) were leukoreduced. CONCLUSION: Blood donations decreased between 2017 and 2019. Donations from younger donors continued to decline while donations among older donors have steadily increased. Prices paid for blood products by hospitals decreased. Implementation of PRT among blood centers and hospitals is slowly expanding.

Impact of the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on blood utilization in the United States: A time-series analysis of data reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare services worldwide. However, little has been reported regarding the impact on blood utilization. We quantified the impact of COVID-19 on blood utilization and discards among facilities reporting to the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module. METHODS: Facilities continuously reporting data, during January 2016-June 2020, on transfused and discarded blood components, stratified by component type (red blood cells [RBC], platelets, and plasma), were included. Interrupted time-series analysis with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for facility surgical volume and seasonality, was used to quantify changes in blood utilization and discards relative to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notification delaying nonessential medical procedures (March 2020). RESULTS: Seventy-two facilities included in the analyses, on average, transfused 44,548 and discarded 2,202 blood components monthly. Following the March 2020 notification and after multivariable adjustment, RBC and platelet utilization declined, -9.9% (p < .001) and -13.6% (p = .014), respectively. Discards increased for RBCs (30.2%, p = .047) and platelets (60.4%, p = .002). No statistically significant change in plasma was found. Following these abrupt changes, blood utilization and discards rebounded toward baseline with RBC utilization increasing by 5.7% (p < .001), and platelet and RBC discards decreasing -16.4% (<0.001) and -12.7 (p = .001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Following notification delaying elective surgical procedures, blood utilization declined substantially while blood discards increased, resulting in substantial wastage of blood products. Ongoing and future pandemic response efforts should consider the impact of interventions on blood supply and demand to ensure blood availability.

Has the trend of declining blood transfusions in the United States ended? Findings of the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Previous iterations of National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) have demonstrated declines in blood collection and transfusion in the United States since 2008, including declines of 3.0% and 6.1% in red blood cell (RBC) collections and transfusions between 2015 and 2017, respectively. This study describes results of the 2019 NBCUS. METHODS: The survey was distributed to all US blood collection centers, all hospitals performing ≥1000 surgeries annually, and a 40% random sample of hospitals performing 100-999 surgeries annually. Weighting and imputation were used to generate national estimates for units of blood and components collected, distributed, transfused, and outdated. RESULTS: In 2019, 11,590,000 RBC units were collected (95% confidence interval [CI], 11,151,000-12,029,000 units), a 5.1% decrease compared with 2017, while 10,852,000 RBC units were transfused (95% CI, 10,444-11,259 units), a 2.5% increase from 2017. Between 2017 and 2019, platelet distributions (2,508,000 units; 95% CI, 2,375,000-2,641,000 units) decreased by 2.0%, and plasma distributions (2,679,000 units; 95% CI, 2,525,000-2,833,000 units) decreased by 16.5%. During the same time period, platelet transfusions (2,243,000 units; 95% CI, 1,846,000-2,147,000 units) increased by 15.8% and plasma transfusions (2,185,000 units; 95% CI, 2,068,000-2,301,000 units) decreased by 8.0%. CONCLUSION: Utilization of RBC in the United States might have reached a nadir. Between 2017 and 2019, RBC collections declined while RBC transfusions did not significantly change, suggesting a narrowing between blood supply and demand. Monitoring national blood collection and utilization data is integral to understanding trends in blood supply safety and availability.

Adequacy of prenatal care use among pregnant women with epilepsy: A population-based, cross-sectional study, Finland, 2000-2014.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between epilepsy and frequency and time of initiation of prenatal care use among pregnant women in Finland. METHODS: We conducted a nationally representative, population-based cross-sectional study including pregnant women with epilepsy in Finland between 2000-2014. Selected demographic and clinical data were obtained by linking multiple national health registers and census. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression analysis. Effect modification of the main association was examined by parity. RESULTS: We examined 10,798 and 921,873 women with and without epilepsy, respectively, and the two groups differed significantly on prenatal care constructs. Women with epilepsy were more likely to have 25 or more total prenatal visits (10.4 % vs. 5.8%) and earlier initiation of prenatal care (at <8 weeks of gestation) (30.8% vs. 24.7%) compared to women without epilepsy. Epilepsy was significantly associated with 25 or more prenatal care visits (aOR=1.84; 95% CI=1.71, 1.98). The association between epilepsy and early initiation of prenatal care (<8 weeks) was significantly modified by parity, where multiparous women had increased odds of early prenatal care initiation (aOR=1.32; 95% CI=1.24, 1.41) compared to nulliparous women (aOR=1.19; 95% CI=1.11, 1.28). CONCLUSIONS: Finnish healthcare, which is publicly funded and freely accessible, provided pregnant women with epilepsy adequate and timely prenatal care. Parity modified the period when prenatal care was initiated as multiparous women were initiated early to receive prenatal care compared to nulliparous women.

A Comparison of Transfusion-Related Adverse Reactions Among Apheresis Platelets, Whole Blood-Derived Platelets, and Platelets Subjected to Pathogen Reduction Technology as Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network Hemovigilance Module.

Despite advances in transfusion safety, concerns with safety of platelet transfusions remain including platelet-related sepsis and higher reaction rates observed among patients receiving apheresis platelets (APLTs). National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Hemovigilance Module (HM) data were analyzed to quantify the burden and severity of adverse reactions occurring from APLTs and whole blood-derived platelets (WBD-PLTs). Facilities participating in NHSN HM during 2010-2018 were included. Adverse reaction rates (number per 100,000 components transfused) were calculated for APLTs and WBD-PLTs stratified by severity, use of platelet additive solution (PAS), and pathogen reduction technology (PRT). Chi-square tests were used to compare rates. During the study interval, 2,000,589 platelets were transfused: 1,435,154 APLTs; 525,902 WBD-PLTs; and among APLTs, 39,533 PRT-APLTs. APLT adverse reaction rates were higher (478 vs 70/ 100,000, P< .01) and more often serious (34 vs 6/100,000; P< .01) compared with WBD-PLTs. Adverse reactions were higher among PRT-APLTs (572/100,000) and were less often serious (18/100,000) compared with non-PRT-APLTs (35/100,000) although this association was not statistically significant. Among components implicated in adverse reactions, 92% of APLTs were suspended in plasma. Compared with PRT-APLTs stored in PAS, rates were higher among units stored in plasma (760 vs 525/100,000). Most serious reactions (75%) were allergic. No transfusion-transmitted infections were reported among PRT-APLTs. APLTs were associated with a 6-fold and 2-fold higher serious adverse reaction risks compared with WBD-PLTs and PRT-APLTs, respectively. These findings demonstrate the importance of monitoring transfusion-related adverse reactions to track the safety of platelet transfusions and quantify the impact of mitigation strategies through national hemovigilance systems.

Association between maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus and spina bifida: A population-based case-control study, Finland, 2000-2014.

BACKGROUND: Maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) is a known risk factor for neural tube defects. We examined the association between maternal PGDM and spina bifida in the offspring using PGDM status from medical records in Finland. METHODS: We conducted a nationally representative, multiregistry, population-based case-control study in Finland. Cases were included if they were live or stillborn infants and diagnosed with spina bifida and delivered between years 2000 and 2014 in Finland. Controls were Finnish infants without spina bifida or other major structural birth defects and delivered during the same time period as cases. Clinical and demographic data were obtained by linking multiple national health registers and census. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PGDM were estimated using logistic regression analysis. Interaction by maternal obesity was examined. RESULTS: Our study included 181 spina bifida cases (61% isolated) and 876,672 controls. Overall, 2.2% percent of all case, and 0.5% of control mothers, had PGDM during pregnancy. Maternal PGDM was significantly associated with an increased odds of spina bifida (adjusted OR 4.35; 95% CI 1.37, 13.82). A similar association was found in our subanalysis on isolated spina bifida cases (adjusted OR 4.41; 95% CI 1.07, 18.24). There was no significant interaction by maternal obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal PGDM was positively associated with spina bifida in Finland, and maternal obesity did not modify this effect. We lacked information on maternal PGDM for electively terminated and spontaneously aborted cases; results should be interpreted with caution.