Low-Dose Aspirin Use Does Not Increase Disease Activity in Pregnant Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: The adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs on the gastrointestinal system are well recognized, but the effect of NSAID use on disease activity patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unresolved. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) is recommended for all pregnant patients with risk factors for developing preeclampsia, including autoimmune conditions. As recognition of risk factors for preeclampsia improves, the preventative use of LDA is likely to increase. AIMS: To investigate if LDA use for prevention of preeclampsia increases the risk of disease activity in pregnant women with IBD. METHODS: Single-center retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients with IBD who delivered from 2012 to 2020, comparing those with and without LDA use. Primary outcome was odds of clinical IBD activity in patients in remission at time of conception. Secondary outcomes were rate of elevated inflammatory biomarkers, defined as C-reactive protein > 5 ug/mL or fecal calprotectin > 250 ug/g, and rate of preeclampsia. Univariate analyses tested for associations. RESULTS: Patients taking LDA were older (p = 0.003) and more likely to have chronic hypertension (p = 0.002), to have undergone in vitro fertilization (p < 0.001), and to be on biologics (p = 0.03). Among patients in remission at conception, there was no difference in clinical disease activity or biomarker elevation during pregnancy based on LDA use (OR 1.27, 95% CI [0.55-2.94], p = 0.6). Rates of preeclampsia were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: LDA use for preeclampsia prevention did not increase the incidence of disease activity in pregnant patients with IBD.

Preoperative Application of Chlorhexidine to Reduce Infection with Cesarean Delivery after Labor (PRACTICAL): A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether use of both preoperative 2% chlorhexidine gluconate abdominal cloth and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub is effective in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing cesarean delivery after labor. STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-center, randomized clinical trial in which patients were randomized 1:1 to receive 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloth applied to the abdomen in addition to the application of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub versus standard of care. The primary outcome was rate of SSIs, including endometritis, by 6 weeks postdelivery. The secondary outcomes were other wound complications (erythema at the operative site, skin separation, drainage, fever, hematoma, seroma) by 6 weeks postdelivery, hospital readmission for wound complications, and day of discharge after cesarean delivery. RESULTS: A total of 319 patients between September 2018 and February 2021 met eligibility criteria: 160 were randomized to the chlorhexidine gluconate abdominal cloth and vaginal scrub group and 159 were randomized to the standard of care group. The groups did not have significant differences in maternal demographic characteristics. Of the 302 (95%) individuals included in primary analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in SSI and endometritis rate by 6 weeks postdelivery (6.6% in chlorhexidine vs. 5.3% standard of care, p = 0.65). Secondary outcomes were also similar among the two groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of preoperative 2% chlorhexidine gluconate abdominal cloth and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate vaginal scrub does not appear to reduce the risk of SSI with cesarean delivery after trial of labor when compared with standard of care. KEY POINTS: · Preoperative chlorhexidine abdominal cloth/vaginal scrub does not decrease SSI in cesarean after labor.. · Preoperative chlorhexidine abdominal cloth/vaginal scrub does not decrease other wound complications in cesarean after labor.. · There was no difference in discharge day, 2-week or 6-week SSI rates..

A computational model for learning from repeated traumatic experiences under uncertainty.

Traumatic events can lead to lifelong, inflexible adaptations in threat perception and behavior, which characterize posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This process involves associations between sensory cues and internal states of threat and then generalization of the threat responses to previously neutral cues. However, most formulations neglect adaptations to threat that are not specific to those associations. To incorporate nonassociative responses to threat, we propose a computational theory of PTSD based on adaptation to the frequency of traumatic events by using a reinforcement learning momentum model. Recent threat prediction errors generate momentum that influences subsequent threat perception in novel contexts. This model fits primary data acquired from a mouse model of PTSD, in which unpredictable footshocks in one context accelerate threat learning in a novel context. The theory is consistent with epidemiological data that show that PTSD incidence increases with the number of traumatic events, as well as the disproportionate impact of early life trauma. Because the theory proposes that PTSD relates to the average of recent threat prediction errors rather than the strength of a specific association, it makes novel predictions for the treatment of PTSD.

Pregnancy during a Pandemic: A Cohort Study Comparing Adverse Outcomes during and before the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate how the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have negatively impacted birth outcomes in patients who tested negative for the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records of pregnant women admitted to a tertiary medical center in New York City, an epicenter of the pandemic. Women with a singleton gestation admitted for delivery from March 27 to May 31, 2019, and March 27 to May 31, 2020, were included. Women less than 18 years of age, those with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerize chain reaction (PCR) test on admission, fetal anomaly, or multiple gestation were excluded. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared between groups. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess outcomes. The primary outcome was preterm birth. RESULTS: Women who delivered during the 2020 study interval had a significantly higher rate of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (gestational hypertension [GHTN] or preeclampsia; odds ratio [OR] = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.85; p = 0.02), postpartum hemorrhage (PPH; OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.14-2.73; p = 0.01), and preterm birth (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.10-2.02; p = 0.01). Gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in the 2020 cohort compared with the 2019 cohort (39.3 versus 39.4 weeks, p = 0.03). After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariate analysis confirmed a persistent increase in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.10-2.20, p = 0.01), PPH (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.06-2.86, p = 0.03), and preterm birth (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.20-2.47, p = 0.003) in patients who delivered in 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. Specifically, medically indicated preterm births increased during the pandemic (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.77-5.67, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Those who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic study interval were more likely to experience hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, medically indicated preterm birth, and PPH even in the absence of SARS-CoV2 infection. KEY POINTS: · Stressful life events can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.. · Even patients negative for COVID-19 experienced GHTN, preeclampsia, PPH and preterm birth during the pandemic.. · Pandemic-related stress may adversely affect perinatal outcomes..

Is Increasing Parity Associated with Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Dichorionic Twin Gestations?

OBJECTIVE: Dichorionic twins have increased risk of preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Grand multiparity may be associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies, although the effect of increasing parity in twins is unclear. This study aimed to elucidate whether grand multiparity leads to adverse outcomes in dichorionic twins compared with multiparity and nulliparity. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective review of dichorionic twins at a single institution between January 2008 and December 2019 comparing pregnancy outcomes among grand multiparity, multiparity, and nulliparity. Primary outcome was preterm birth less than 37 weeks. Multivariable regression controlled for differing demographics, prior preterm birth, use of reproductive technologies, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Chi square and Fisher's exact were used for categorical variables and Kruskal-Wallis was used for continuous variables. RESULTS: A total of 843 (60.3%) pregnancies were nulliparous, 499 (35.7%) multiparous, and 57(4.1%) grand multiparous. Univariate analysis indicated that multiparous women had lower incidence of preterm birth less than 37, 34, and 32 weeks (57 vs. 51%, p = 0.04; 19.2 vs. 14.0%, p = 0.02; 9.6 vs. 5.6%, p = 0.01) and that grand multiparous women had lower incidence of preterm birth less than 34 weeks (19.2 vs. 5.3%, p = 0.008) compared with nulliparous women. Multivariable regression confirmed multiparous women had lower odds of preterm birth less than 34 and 32 weeks compared with nulliparous women (<34 wk: odds ratio [OR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49-0.97, p = 0.03; <32 wk: OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.79, p = 0.004) and that multiparous women (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.42-0.77, p = 0.0002) and grand multiparous women (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.08-0.68, p = 0.0074) had lower incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy when compared with nulliparous women. CONCLUSION: Grand multiparity is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes compared with nulliparity or multiparity in dichorionic twins. Increasing parity may protect against incidence of preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy even among grand multiparous women. KEY POINTS: · Incidence of preterm birth may decrease with increasing parity in twins.. · Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy may decrease with increasing parity in twins.. · Grand multiparity is not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in twins..

Grand Multiparity and Obstetric Outcomes in a Contemporary Cohort: The Role of Increasing Parity.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence is inconsistent regarding grand multiparity and its association with adverse obstetric outcomes. Few large American cohorts of grand multiparas have been studied. We assessed if increasing parity among grand multiparas is associated with increased odds of adverse perinatal outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort of patients with parity ≥ 5 who delivered a singleton gestation in New York City from 2011 to 2019. Outcomes included postpartum hemorrhage, preterm delivery, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, shoulder dystocia, birth weight > 4,000 and <2,500 g, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Parity was analyzed continuously, and multivariate analysis determined if increasing parity and other obstetric variables were associated with each adverse outcome. RESULTS: There were 2,496 patients who met inclusion criteria. Increasing parity among grand multiparas was not associated with any of the prespecified adverse outcomes. Odds of postpartum hemorrhage increased with history (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.65, 95% confidence interval [1.83, 3.84]) and current cesarean delivery (aOR: 4.59 [3.40, 6.18]). Preterm delivery was associated with history (aOR: 12.36 [8.70-17.58]) and non-White race (aOR: 1.90 [1.27, 2.84]). Odds of shoulder dystocia increased with history (aOR: 5.89 [3.22, 10.79]) and birth weight > 4,000 g (aOR: 9.94 [6.32, 15.65]). Birth weight > 4,000 g was associated with maternal obesity (aOR: 2.92 [2.22, 3.84]). Birth weight < 2,500 g was associated with advanced maternal age (aOR: 1.69 [1.15, 2.48]), chronic hypertension (aOR: 2.45 [1.32, 4.53]), and non-White race (aOR: 2.47 [1.66, 3.68]). Odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increased with advanced maternal age (aOR: 1.79 [1.25, 2.56]), history (aOR: 10.09 [6.77-15.04]), and non-White race (aOR: 2.79 [1.95, 4.00]). NICU admission was associated with advanced maternal age (aOR: 1.47 [1.06, 2.02]) and non-White race (aOR: 2.57 [1.84, 3.58]). CONCLUSION: Among grand multiparous patients, the risk factor for adverse maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes appears to be occurrence of those adverse events in a prior pregnancy and not increasing parity itself. KEY POINTS: · Increasing parity is not associated with adverse obstetric outcomes among grand multiparas.. · Prior adverse pregnancy outcome is a risk factor for the outcome among grand multiparas.. · Advanced maternal age is associated with adverse obstetric outcomes among grand multiparas..

Postpartum hospital use among survivors of intimate partner violence.

OBJECTIVE: More than 1 in 3 individuals who identify as female, experience either intimate partner violence (IPV) or sexual assault during their lifetime, and sexual violence committed by an intimate partner is at its highest during their reproductive years.1 As many as 20% of pregnant individuals may experience IPV, and IPV during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, making pregnant individuals an especially vulnerable population.1 In fact, >50% of pregnancy-associated suicides and >45% of pregnancy-associated homicides are associated with IPV and these often occur during the postpartum period.2 Although >50% of maternal deaths occur postpartum,3 little research has examined whether IPV is associated with markers of postpartum maternal morbidity, including hospital readmission and emergency department (ED) visits.4 In addition, few studies have examined the feasibility of ascertaining IPV at the delivery hospitalization using billing codes. Although the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes include factors related to social determinants of health, ICD-10 codes are largely underutilized for the purpose of understanding risk of disease and adverse outcomes.5 The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association of IPV screening at delivery with the incidence of postpartum hospital use. Another objective was to examine the possibility of using ICD-10 codes at the delivery hospitalization to identify IPV in pregnant individuals. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort of birth data linked with inpatient and outpatient hospital claims data, including deliveries of individuals residing in the New York City metropolitan area between 2016 and 2018. Thirty-day hospital use was ascertained by either a readmission or an ED visit within 30 days of discharge. We identified the incidence of IPV from the delivery hospital discharge records using 36 IPV-related ICD-10 codes that we identified in the literature, including those defined for adult psychological and sexual abuse. We estimated the associations between IPV identified during the delivery hospitalization and postpartum hospital use using a multivariable logistic regression and separately adjusting for demographic and structural determinants of health, psychosocial factors, comorbidities, and obstetrical complications. All analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). This study was approved by our institutional review board. RESULTS: IPV was indicated on the discharge records of 348 individuals (0.11%). As shown in the Table, the overall incidence of ED visits among individuals with an IPV-related diagnosis was 12.9%. The incidence of a postpartum ED visit was significantly higher among individuals with an IPV diagnosis than among those without (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-3.9), and this was true after sequentially adjusting for demographic and structural determinants of health (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4-2.7), comorbidities and pregnancy complications (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.6), psychosocial factors (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0), and obstetrical complications (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0). The incidence of either a postpartum ED visit or readmission was also higher among those patients with an IPV-related diagnosis (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.0-3.6). However, there was no significant difference in postpartum readmissions alone among patients with or without an IPV-related diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study established that postpartum ED visits are significantly higher among individuals with an IPV-related diagnosis during the delivery hospitalization in a large citywide database, even after adjusting for established risk factors for postpartum ED use. Because ED visits have been identified as a possible marker of maternal morbidity and mortality,4 this finding may suggest that individuals affected by IPV could benefit from screening throughout pregnancy, including during the delivery hospitalization, to prevent adverse postpartum outcomes. However, as established in this study, IPV identified solely by ICD-10 codes during the delivery hospitalization is rare and likely underreported. It is possible that underdetection of IPV is because of insufficient clinician screening, a lack of documentation in the medical records using ICD-10 codes, and the medical status of the pregnant individual at the time of delivery. This finding demonstrates a need to screen and record findings thoroughly during the pregnancy period, including at delivery hospitalization, for any IPV-related diagnoses. A limitation of our data is that we were not able to ascertain hospital use outside of New York City and did not include other time points during an individual's pregnancy. Future research should identify at which time points IPV screening occurs during care of a pregnant individual and whether this may affect postpartum ED visit rates. As a clinical outcome, maternal mortality is preventable and screening for risk factors such as IPV throughout the perinatal period, including at delivery admission and during the postpartum period, is imperative for comprehensive obstetrics care.

The Burden of Postoperative Delirium After Shoulder Arthroplasty and Modifiable Pharmacological Perioperative Risk Factors: A Retrospective Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Increasing demand for shoulder arthroplasty and an aging population may increase the rate of complications associated with advanced age such as postoperative delirium, but little is known on its burden in this cohort. Purpose: We sought to answer the following questions: (1) What is the epidemiology of postoperative delirium after shoulder arthroplasty? (2) What modifiable risk factors can be identified for postoperative delirium after shoulder arthroplasty? (3) Do risk factors differ in those younger than and in those older than 70 years of age? Methods: In a retrospective nationwide cohort study, we extracted data from the Premier Healthcare database on inpatient total and reverse shoulder arthroplasties from 2006 to 2016. The primary outcome was postoperative delirium; modifiable risk factors of interest were perioperative opioid use (high, medium, or low), peripheral nerve block use, and perioperative prescription medications. Mixed-effects models assessed associations between risk factors and postoperative delirium. Odds ratios and confidence intervals are reported. We applied a cutoff of 70 years of age because it was the median age of the cohort, as well as the age at which we observed that delirium prevalence increased. Results: A total of 92,429 total and reverse shoulder arthroplasties were identified (age range: 14-89 years). Overall delirium prevalence was 3.1% (n = 2909). Age-specific prevalence of postoperative delirium was lower in patients aged 50 to 70 years and higher in those aged 70 years and older, up to 8% among those older than 88 years. After adjusting for relevant covariates, only long-acting and combined short-acting and long-acting benzodiazepines (compared with no benzodiazepines) were associated with increased odds of postoperative delirium. Corticosteroids were associated with decreased odds of postoperative delirium. Conclusion: Our retrospective cohort study demonstrated that benzodiazepine use and older patient age were significantly associated with postoperative delirium in shoulder arthroplasty patients. The relationship between benzodiazepine use and delirium was particularly notable among those 70 years of age and older. Further investigation is indicated, given the known adverse effects of benzodiazepines in older adults and our findings of higher than expected use of these medications in this surgical cohort.

Elective fetal reduction by radiofrequency ablation in monochorionic diamniotic twins decreases adverse outcomes compared to ongoing monochorionic diamniotic twins.

BACKGROUND: Multifetal pregnancy reduction is a technique used to reduce the fetal number to mitigate the risks of adverse outcomes associated with multiple gestations. Monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies are subject to unique complications, contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, patients have an option to electively reduce 1 fetus to improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare outcomes of elective reduction of monochorionic diamniotic twins by radiofrequency ablation to planned ongoing monochorionic diamniotic twins. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of 315 monochorionic diamniotic twin gestations that underwent first-trimester ultrasound within 1 institution. Planned electively reduced twins were compared with ongoing monochorionic diamniotic twins. All reductions were performed via radiofrequency ablation of the cord insertion site into the fetal abdomen. The primary outcome was preterm birth at <36 weeks' gestation. Secondary outcomes included gestational age at delivery; preterm birth at less than 37-, 34-, 32-, and 28-weeks' gestation; unintended loss; and adverse perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Among 315 monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies, 14 (4.4%) underwent elective multifetal pregnancy reduction, and 301 (95.6%) were planned ongoing twins. The mean gestational age of radiofrequency ablation in the elective multifetal pregnancy reduction group was 15.1±0.68 weeks. Patients who underwent elective multifetal pregnancy reduction had significantly higher maternal age (P<.01) and were more likely to be Asian (P<.01). Moreover, they were more likely to have undergone in vitro fertilization (P=.03) and chorionic villus sampling (P<.01). There was a significantly higher rate of term deliveries in the elective radiofrequency ablation group compared with ongoing twins (gestational age, 38 weeks [interquartile range, 36.1-39.1] vs 35.9 weeks [interquartile range, 34.0-36.9]; P<.01). Patients with ongoing pregnancies had a trend of increased rate of preterm birth at <36 weeks' gestation (odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-12.0; P=.06), a significantly increased risk of preterm birth at <37 weeks' gestation (odds ratio, 8.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-26.4; P<.01), and no difference at less than 34-, 32-, or 28- weeks' gestation. All patients who underwent elective radiofrequency ablation had successful pregnancies with no pregnancy losses or terminations. Of ongoing gestations, 36 required procedures, including 16 (5.3%) medically indicated radiofrequency ablation, 14 (4.6%) laser ablation, and 6 (1.9%) amnioreductions. Furthermore, 22 patients (7.3%) with planned ongoing twins had total pregnancy loss at <24 weeks' gestation. Notably, 12 patients (4.0%) had unintended loss of 1 fetus before 24 weeks' gestation in the ongoing pregnancy cohort, and 12 patients (4.0%) had unintended loss of both fetuses before 24 weeks' gestation. Moreover, 5 patients (1.7%) in the ongoing pregnancy group had intrauterine fetal demise at >24 weeks' gestation and 10 patients (3.3%) electively terminated both fetuses. There was no significant difference in loss rates between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: In this study of monochorionic diamniotic twins, patients who elected to undergo multifetal pregnancy reduction had significantly lower rates of preterm birth at <37 weeks and a lower trend of preterm birth at <36 weeks' gestation without an increased risk of pregnancy loss. Median gestational age at delivery was significantly higher in the elective multifetal pregnancy reduction group (38 weeks) than in the ongoing pregnancy group (35.9 weeks). Further research is needed to clarify if multifetal pregnancy reduction improves long-term outcomes.