Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Among Pregnant and Post-Partum Women.

Background The incidence of cardiovascular disease among pregnant women is rising in the United States. Data on racial disparities for the major cardiovascular events during pregnancy are limited. Methods and Results Pregnant and post-partum women hospitalized from January 2007 to December 2017 were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The outcomes of interest included: in-hospital mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between race and in-hospital outcomes. Among 46 700 637 pregnancy-related hospitalizations, 21 663 575 (46.4%) were White, 6 302 089 (13.5%) were Black, and 8 914 065 (19.1%) were Hispanic. The trends of mortality and stroke declined significantly in Black women, but however, were mostly unchanged among White women. The incidence of mortality and cardiovascular morbidity was highest among Black women followed by White women, then Hispanic women. The majority of Blacks (62.3%) were insured by Medicaid while the majority of White patients had private insurance (61.9%). Most of Black women were below-median income (71.2%) while over half of the White patients were above the median income (52.7%). Compared with White women, Black women had the highest mortality with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.45, 95% CI (1.21-1.73); myocardial infarction with aOR of 1.23, 95% CI (1.06-1.42); stroke with aOR of 1.57, 95% CI (1.41-1.74); pulmonary embolism with aOR of 1.42, 95% CI (1.30-1.56); and peripartum cardiomyopathy with aOR of 1.71, 95 % CI (1.66-1.76). Conclusions Significant racial disparities exist in major cardiovascular events among pregnant and post-partum women. Further efforts are needed to minimize these differences.

Description and classification of postpartum chronic pain: A multicentric prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: To classify persistent perineal and pelvic postpartum pain using the classification usually employed in chronic pelvic pain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Prospective observational study including all women who have consulted an algologist or gynecologist at one of the six French centers for a chronic pain (superior or equal to 3 months) spontaneous linked by the mother with her childbirth were included. During semi-directed interviews, a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic factors and detailed questions about pain were collected. Then, pelvic and perineal pain were classified into 7 pain syndromes: pelvic sensitization (Convergences PP criteria), complex regional pain syndrome (Budapest criteria), pudendal or cluneal neuralgia (Nantes criteria), neuroma, thoraco-lumbar junction syndrome, myofascial pain (muscle trigger zone), fibromyalgia (American College of Rheumatology criteria). The principal objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of each painful disorder. The secondary aims were the description of socio-demographic factors and clinical characteristics of this population, identify the related symptoms and the impact on daily function associated with the chronic pelvic or perineal postpartum pain. RESULTS: 40 women with chronic pelvic or perineal pain spontaneously linked with childbirth were included. 78 % experienced pain for more than 12 months. A large majority had a vaginal birth (95 %) with perineal suture (90 %) and severe acute pain within the first week postpartum (62 %). Postpartum pain impacted participant's sexual activity (80 %), micturition (28 %) and defecation (38 %). In the sample, 17 cases of neuroma, 6 patients with pudendal or cluneal neuralgia, 13 patients with pelvic sensitization and 2 cases of fibromyalgia were identified. Complex regional pain syndrome was diagnosed in 8 patients, and myofascial pain in 11 women, and only 1 patient had thoraco-lumbar junction syndrome. Neuropathic pain was found in 31 participants (77.5 %) according to DN4 criteria. DISCUSSION: The classification scheme proposed in this study may be a very useful tool to investigate postpartum pelvic and perineal pain and to propose a treatment.

Mothers at Risk: Factors Affecting Maternal Postpartum Length of Stay.

Perinatal complications linked to maternal comorbidities contribute to increased healthcare utilization through an extended postpartum length of stay (LOS). Understanding factors influencing postpartum LOS may minimize the adverse effects associated with comorbidities and complications. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors with the greatest odds of increasing postpartum LOS. Linked 2008-2009 hospital discharge and birth certificate data were used to examine comorbidities and complication codes in 1 015 424 births. The overall rate for an extended LOS (vaginal: >5 days/cesarean: >6 days) was 3.63 per 1000 live births. Complications were present in 17% of pregnancies; multiple complications were seen in 1%. Chronic hypertension was associated with an extended stay for both vaginal and cesarean births (odds ratio [OR] = 5.89 [95% CI, 4.39-7.88]; OR = 3.57 [95% CI, 3.05-4.17], respectively). Puerperal infections (OR = 6.86 [95% CI, 5.73-8.21]), eclampsia (OR = 17.07 [95% CI, 13.76-21.17]), and transfusions (OR = 11.66 [95% CI, 9.20-14.75]) occurred most frequently and conferred the highest odds of an extended stay for vaginal births. Cerebrovascular conditions (OR = 15.32 [95% CI, 11.90-19.60]) and infection (OR = 15.35 [95% CI, 10.11-23.32]) conferred the highest odds of an extended LOS for cesarean births. The earlier risk factors are recognized, the sooner processes can be initiated to optimize organizational preparation, thus decreasing adverse maternal outcomes and extended hospital stays.

A latent class analysis of brief postpartum psychiatric hospital admissions.

Almost 40% of postpartum psychiatric hospital admissions are brief, lasting 72h or less. We aimed to identify unique subgroups of women within this group to inform better intervention. All women in Ontario, Canada with a brief postpartum psychiatric admission (≤ 72h) (2007-2012)(N = 631) were studied using latent class analysis. We identified distinct subtypes of women and compared women within each subtype on post-discharge mental health indicators: physician visits, emergency department (ED) visits and readmissions. We identified four clinically distinct classes: (1)women with no diagnosed mental illness (2 years before delivery) (n = 179; 28.4% of the sample); (2)women with pre-existing history of severe mental illness (i.e. psychosis) (n = 161; 25.5%); (3)women with pre-existing history of non-psychotic mental illness (n = 211; 33.4%); and (4)adolescent rural-dwelling women with alcohol and substance use disorders (n = 80; 12.7%). In the 1 year post-discharge, women in classes 1-3 were more likely to have post-discharge physician visit than women in class 4 (p < 0.05) and were less likely to have a psychiatric ED visit (p < 0.05). Women in class 2 were most likely to be readmitted (p < 0.05). We identified clinically distinct subgroups of women with brief postpartum psychiatric admissions who may each benefit from differing targeted preventive strategies and post-discharge treatment planning.

[Bipolar disorder, pregnancy and the postpartum--risks and possibilities of pharmacotherapy]. / Psychopharmaka in Schwangerschaft und Stillzeit--Risiken und Möglichkeiten bei Frauen mit einer bipolaren affektiven Störung.

Pregnancy and the postpartum are times of increased risk for women with bipolar disorder to develop mood episodes, especially depressions that may require pharmacotherapy. If mood stabilizing agents are discontinued prior or due to pregnancy, the risk for relapse increases dramatically. On the other hand, there is no psychotropic drug that is completely risk-free for the unborn. Some mood stabilizing medications are teratogenic, others can cause severe perinatal complications. Thus, the decision whether to treat the pregnant women with psychotropic drugs is difficult to make. In this paper, the reproductive risks of mood stabilizing agents, antidepressants, neuroleptics and benzodiazepines for the fetus are reviewed. During the postpartum period severe mood disorders can occur. The signs and symptoms of these disorders are reviewed and therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Differentiation and clinical implications of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

Postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are serious mood disorders encountered by nurses working in a variety of settings. Postpartum depression refers to a nonpsychotic depressive episode, while postpartum psychosis refers to a manic or affective psychotic episode linked temporally with childbirth. The nursing profession plays a crucial role in the early identification and treatment of these postpartum mood disorders. This article explains the classification, clinical presentation, epidemiology, management, and long-term outcomes of postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

[Assessment of anxiety in women during puerperium]. / Ocena poziomu leku u kobiet w pologu.

PURPOSE: Many women experience various emotional disorders during puerperium characterized by high levels of anxiety. THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: To analyse the level of anxiety in women during puerperium depending on age, education, marital status, number of pregnancies, route of delivery, and family situation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 120 women between day 10 and 15 of puerperium without any previous psychiatric disorders. Pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium were without any morbidity and the newborns were healthy. The level of anxiety was measured using C. D. Spilberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). RESULTS: The level of anxiety as a trait in women during puerperium was within normal limits, whereas the level of anxiety as a state was elevated. Primipara and women up to 20 years of age require special attention during psycho-preventive treatment due to increased level of anxiety as a trait during puerperium. Employment and family situation determine the level of anxiety as a state after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of women with a higher level of anxiety as a state during puerperium may provoke early medical intervention in this group of women and thus contribute to improvement in the quality of life of the woman and conditions for future development of the neonate.

Transtornos psiquiátricos na gestação e no puerpério: classificação, diagnóstico e tratamento / Psychiatry disorders in pregnancy and puerperium: classification, diagnosis and treatment

Diversas questões ainda estão em aberto no que se refere a um tema tão amplo quanto a saúde mental das mulheres em período de gestação e puerpério. Por mais contraditório que possa parecer, muitas pacientes apresentam tristeza ou ansiedade em vez de alegria nessas fases de suas vidas. Os limites entre o fisiológico e o patológico podem ser estreitos, o que pode gerar dúvidas em obstetras, clínicos ou psiquiatras. Muitas pacientes também sentem-se culpadas, prejudicando a aderência ao tratamento e a aceitação de uma patologia em uma fase que, em tese, deveria ser de alegria. Nas últimas décadas, estudos têm investigado um pouco mais sobre o tema, mas algumas questões ainda estão em debate: os transtornos puerperais poderiam ser uma manifestação de um transtorno prévio não adequadamente tratado? Seriam a gestação ou o puerpério fatores protetores ou de risco para o desencadeamento de transtornos psiquiátricos? As alterações hormonais que ocorrem nesse período poderiam estar envolvidas na sua etiologia? Quais seriam os principais fatores de risco? Em quais situações seria adequado usar psicofármacos como medida de tratamento? Neste artigo, serão abordadas algumas dessas questões, sobre um tema que ainda precisa ser muito investigado para que tenhamos conclusões mais precisas.

Several questions regarding mental health during the period of pregnancy and puerperium are still open. Even this seems contradictory, many patient present sadness or anxiety instead of joy in these phases of life. The limits between physiological and the pathological one can be narrow, what it may generate doubts in obstetricians, physicians or psychiatrists. Many patients also feel guilty, harming the treatment and the acceptance of her pathology in a phase that theoretically would have to be of joy. Few decades ago till today, there are studies that investigate deeper on this topic, but some questions still are in discussion: the puerperal diseases could be a manifestation of a previous disease not adequately treated? Would be the pregnancy or the puerperium protective factors or risk factors for the psychiatric diseases development? Could be involved in the etiology the hormonal alterations that occur in this period? Which would be the main factors of risk? In which situations it would be adjusted to use medications as treatment? This article has the proposal to discuss some of these questions that are immersed on a topic that is still opening to investigation to let us with more accuracy conclusions.

Delivery-related complications and early postpartum morbidity in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

OBJECTIVE: To describe delivery-related complications and postpartum morbidity of women living in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHOD: From November 1993 to May 1995, 1506 women were interviewed regarding delivery-related complications and postpartum morbidities. Operational definitions were applied to maternal reports to categorize serious delivery-related complications and postpartum morbidity. Corroborating information was identified from medical records for facility-based deliveries and physical examinations by female physicians 14 to 22 days postpartum. RESULT: Thirty-six percent of women described serious delivery-related complications and 75% of women reported postpartum morbidity. There were two maternal deaths among 1471 live births. When maternal reports were related to corroborating information, the proportion of women's reports of serious complications and morbidity appears reasonably accurate for some conditions. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of urban slum women in Dhaka experience serious delivery-related complications and/or postpartum morbidity. Information on delivery practices that contribute to morbidity and factors that influence appropriate care seeking is needed.

[Mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum period--epidemiology, etiology, classification and treatment]. / Zaburzenia psychiczne okoloporodowe--epidemiologia, etiologia, klasyfikacja, leczenie.

The paper presents current knowledge about the prevalence of mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum period and its' classification. Possible pathomechanisms of its incidence, risk factors and therapeutic possibilities based on the newest research were described.

A review of medical records and discharge summary data found moderate to high predictive values of discharge diagnoses of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the discharge diagnoses of venous thromboembolism during pregnancy and postpartum, we examined the positive predictive value (PPV) of venous thromboembolic (VTE) discharge diagnoses associated with pregnancy or puerperium based on 311 cases registered in a Danish population-based hospital-discharge registry. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Medical records and hospital discharge summaries were retrieved and reviewed using a standardized form. Standard and pregnancy-specific codes were used for 147 (49%) and 153 (51%) cases, respectively. RESULTS: The overall PPV of the selected codes was 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.0-90.9). When focusing on confirmed VTE events in relation to the pregnancy, the overall PPV was 79.3% (95% CI: 74.3-83.8). CONCLUSION: The overall PPVs of pregnancy-related VTE diagnoses were moderate to high. The predictive values varied substantially between the individual codes, however, and not all the registered VTE events occurred in relation to pregnancy. Thus, use of unvalidated registry-based pregnancy-related VTE diagnoses for epidemiological research may lead to biased results.

[Acute puerperal uterine inversion: two cases]. / Inversion utérine puerpérale aiguë: à propos de deux cas.

Acute puerperal inversion is both rare and serious (1/20000 deliveries in France) and may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Outcome depends on the degree of uterine bleeding and the presence or not of a state of shock. Acute puerperal inversion occurs at the time of placental delivery. Four stages are usually described by degree of exteriorization of the uterus. The diagnosis is essentially clinical. The predisposing factors are hypotonic uterus, fundal implantation of the placenta and placental acretas. 60% of all cases are caused by precipitous manoeuvres including traction on the cord or improper fundal pressure. Once a diagnosis is made immediate measures must be undertaken to assure clinical stability of the mother. Manuel reinversion of the uterus must be done quickly to avoid a cervical stricture that may form within thirty minutes of the inversion making successful manipulation very difficult. Failure or reoccurrence requires surgical treatment either by abdominal or vaginal approach. We report on two cases: one of complete inversion leading to a hysterectomy in order to control bleeding and a second case of incomplete inversion where repositioning was successful.

[Prevalence and clinical aspects of puerperal mental disorders at the University Hospital Center of Dakar]. / Prévalence et formes cliniques des troubles psychiques de la puerpéralité au CHU de Dakar.

This is a contribution to the survey on psychiatric disorders of puerperality. We are particularly interested in the clinical signs and the ethiopathogenical facts of psychiatric disorders of the post-partum which appear-in our point of view-to be the main point on which we could probably act to reduce the effect of the disease. It is a retrospective survey going from January, 1st 1992 to December, 31st 1996. Here are included all the female patients whose age is more than 15, hospitalised during survey period and who presented a mental pathology linked with puerperality in accordance with diagnosis criterions of World Health Organization. In 1 627 hospitalisations, there were 658 women among whom 52 presented puerperality psychical disorders, that's meaning 7.9% of the female patients hospitalised in psychiatry, with an average age of 24.5 years. Concerning the classification of the diseases, the acute delirious psychosis and the depressive disorders are more important with respectively 56% and 19% of the sample. 92% of the women gave birth by the vaginal normal way and 61.5% presented disorders in the first week following their delivery. The married women are 94%. Concerning their occupations, 98% are house keepers. 52% are primiparas and 48% are multiparas. Psychical disorders of puerperality are frequent in Dakar. Acute psychosis and mood disorders are the main clinical aspects. The management of the future mother to her new roles by health education and prenatal check-ups in health centers by skilled and appropriate personnal is necessary.

Nutrition and exercise in overweight and obese postpartum women.

This secondary analysis of a longitudinal, nonintervention study describes the nutritional and physical activity behavior of overweight and obese postpartum women and the differences in nutrition and physical activity when participants are evaluated according to four weight categories: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The sample consisted of 67 postpartal women [40 (60%) African American and 27 (40%) White] who gave birth vaginally to healthy term infants. No differences were present when overweight and obese women were compared with underweight and normal weight women relative to nutrition and physical activity. Nutritional imbalances were present for overweight and obese women relative to protein and fat intake. Overweight and obese postpartum women can be encouraged to lose weight using a nutritionally balanced approach by decreasing fat and protein intake, maintaining an adequate carbohydrate intake, and increasing their folacin intake.

Internal medical residents' ability to diagnose and characterize major depression.

The purpose of this study was to assess medical residents' knowledge of symptom criteria and subtypes of major depressive episode and their accuracy in diagnosing major depressive disorders and classifying episode severity and subtype according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Thirty-five third-year internal medicine residents completed a self-administered, written instrument containing 2 open-ended questions and 21 hypothetical scenarios. The sensitivity for recognizing major depressive disorder was 64%, and the specificity was 69%. The sensitivity for classifying severity was 86% for mild, 66% for moderate, 71% for severe, and 66% for severe with psychosis. Misclassification of severity was most commonly to a less severe class. For scenarios with a diagnosable subtype of a major depressive disorder, the sensitivity for classification was 34% for atypical, 51% for catatonic, 74% for melancholic, 100% for postpartum, and 94% for seasonal depression. When asked to enumerate the criteria symptoms for depression, 80% or more of the residents listed sad mood, loss of interest, weight change, and sleep disturbances; 14 to 21 (40%-60%) listed thoughts of death and worthlessness; other criteria were listed by 7 to 11 (20%-31%). When asked to list the episode subtypes, none was listed by more than 3 (9%) residents, although 13 (37%) residents volunteered psychotic as a subtype. Residents frequently failed to recognize the presence or absence of major depressive disorder and often misclassified episode severity and subtype on scenarios. Few could spontaneously list the episode subtypes. Methods must be developed to improve the recognition and classification of major depressive episodes to better direct treatment.

An epidemiological and clinical investigation of postpartum psychiatric illness in Japanese mothers.

A case note study of postpartum psychiatric illness as defined by Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) was conducted in an epidemiologically defined large area of Japan. The admission rate was 0.34/1000 live births. The most frequent diagnostic category was affective disorder (53%). "Atypical" symptoms were observed in 31% of all cases and were more frequent (67%) in patients with schizoaffective disorder. Fifty six percent of mothers developed a psychiatric illness within two weeks of delivery. The patients with "atypical" symptoms were admitted much more quickly and their length of stay in hospital was shorter.

Postpartum cardiac failure in Sudanese-Sahelian Africa: clinical prevalence in western Niger.

Postpartum cardiac failure (PPCF) is the most frequent clinical form of heart failure in hospitalized women in Sudanese-Sahelian Africa. We have previously studied this disease in a hospital setting. Although the incidence is relatively high in rural areas, no systematic field study has been carried out. In this report, we describe a retrospective study conducted in the western part of Niger in July-August 1991. Sixty-two villages were visited and a thorough search for patients was initiated (from a population of 79,941 inhabitants, 19,941 females 14-40 years of age, corrected census of 1988). Twenty-eight patients from 27 villages were included. The subject patients were those presenting with predefined symptoms (dyspnea and cough) and physical signs (edema of the legs) of congestive heart failure during the six-month period following delivery. Apart from arterial hypertension and previous PPCF, diagnosis of another cardiac disease was an exclusion criterion. The prevalence of PPCF was 1.40 per 1,000 females of child-bearing age. The clinical profiles of these cases were in accordance with those of a previous study in 1989 carried out at Niamey Hospital. These results were a mean +/- SD age of 28 +/- 7 years, multiparity (mean = 4 children), poor socioeconomic status, postpartum ablutions with hot water, and a high sodium intake. This is the first study on the clinical prevalence of PPCF in a Sudanese/Sahelian population living in a rural area.

PIP: A descriptive retrospective study conducted in 62 villages in Western Niger in July-August 1994, examined the prevalence of postpartum cardiac failure (PCF). This condition, the most frequent clinical form of heart failure in hospitalized women in Sudanese-Sahelian Africa, has not previously been investigated in a field study. Meetings with village leaders were used to identify women who had just given birth and those who were ill. Through this method, 60 ill women who had given birth in the preceding 9 months were identified. PCF was diagnosed in 28 of these women from 27 villages on the basis of predefined symptoms (dyspnea and cough) and physical signs (edema of the legs) of congestive heart failure during the 6 months after delivery. The prevalence of PCF was 1.40/1000 women of childbearing age; likely an underestimate since the field identification criteria did not take into account women who had already died. The mean age of identified patients was 28 years, with a mean parity of 4. Low socioeconomic status, postpartum ablutions with hot water, and a high sodium intake were common in these women. A comparison of 17 clinical and epidemiological factors in this series with those of 66 patients who previously had PCF confirmed at Niamey National Hospital did not reveal any significant differences in the incidence of symptoms between the 2 groups, although functional discomfort was more severe in the hospital study. Untreated cardiac failure is usually a fatal disease. Timely identification of PCF is hindered, however, by well-tolerated symptoms.

Psicoses puerperais: pesquisa clínico-epidemiológica em sistema de registros de casos informatizado - resultados preliminares / Puerperal psychosis: clinic-epidemiological research

O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar as condiçöes peculiares de recuperaçäo de informaçöes sobre psicoses puerperais que näo dispöem de uma categoria específica na vigente CID 9/OMS. Foi desenvolvido um software de busca no bando de dados, através de um sistema de varreduras sucessivas aos diagnósticos possíveis, utilizando-se um algoritmo de decisäo