Pregnancy Outcomes among Pregnant Persons after COVID-19 Vaccination: Assessing Vaccine Safety in Retrospective Cohort Analysis of U.S. National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C).

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing severe illness, including among pregnant persons. The vaccines appear to be safe in pregnancy, supporting a continuously favorable overall risk/benefit profile, though supportive data for the U.S. over different periods of variant predominance are lacking. We sought to analyze the association of adverse pregnancy outcomes with COVID-19 vaccinations in the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants' dominant periods (constituting 50% or more of each pregnancy) for pregnant persons in a large, nationally sampled electronic health record repository in the U.S. Our overall analysis included 311,057 pregnant persons from December 2020 to October 2023 at a time when there were approximately 3.6 million births per year. We compared rates of preterm births and stillbirths among pregnant persons who were vaccinated before or during pregnancy to persons vaccinated after pregnancy or those who were not vaccinated. We performed a multivariable Poisson regression with generalized estimated equations to address data site heterogeneity for preterm births and unadjusted exact models for stillbirths, stratified by the dominant variant period. We found lower rates of preterm birth in the majority of modeled periods (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] range: 0.42 to 0.85; p-value range: <0.001 to 0.06) and lower rates of stillbirth (IRR range: 0.53 to 1.82; p-value range: <0.001 to 0.976) in most periods among those who were vaccinated before or during pregnancy compared to those who were vaccinated after pregnancy or not vaccinated. We largely found no adverse associations between COVID-19 vaccination and preterm birth or stillbirth; these findings reinforce the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and bolster confidence for pregnant persons, providers, and policymakers in the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for this group despite the end of the public health emergency.

Who is pregnant? Defining real-world data-based pregnancy episodes in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C).

Objectives: To define pregnancy episodes and estimate gestational age within electronic health record (EHR) data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Materials and Methods: We developed a comprehensive approach, named Hierarchy and rule-based pregnancy episode Inference integrated with Pregnancy Progression Signatures (HIPPS), and applied it to EHR data in the N3C (January 1, 2018-April 7, 2022). HIPPS combines: (1) an extension of a previously published pregnancy episode algorithm, (2) a novel algorithm to detect gestational age-specific signatures of a progressing pregnancy for further episode support, and (3) pregnancy start date inference. Clinicians performed validation of HIPPS on a subset of episodes. We then generated pregnancy cohorts based on gestational age precision and pregnancy outcomes for assessment of accuracy and comparison of COVID-19 and other characteristics. Results: We identified 628 165 pregnant persons with 816 471 pregnancy episodes, of which 52.3% were live births, 24.4% were other outcomes (stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, abortions), and 23.3% had unknown outcomes. Clinician validation agreed 98.8% with HIPPS-identified episodes. We were able to estimate start dates within 1 week of precision for 475 433 (58.2%) episodes. 62 540 (7.7%) episodes had incident COVID-19 during pregnancy. Discussion: HIPPS provides measures of support for pregnancy-related variables such as gestational age and pregnancy outcomes based on N3C data. Gestational age precision allows researchers to find time to events with reasonable confidence. Conclusion: We have developed a novel and robust approach for inferring pregnancy episodes and gestational age that addresses data inconsistency and missingness in EHR data.

Who is pregnant? defining real-world data-based pregnancy episodes in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C).

Objective: To define pregnancy episodes and estimate gestational aging within electronic health record (EHR) data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Materials and Methods: We developed a comprehensive approach, named H ierarchy and rule-based pregnancy episode I nference integrated with P regnancy P rogression S ignatures (HIPPS) and applied it to EHR data in the N3C from 1 January 2018 to 7 April 2022. HIPPS combines: 1) an extension of a previously published pregnancy episode algorithm, 2) a novel algorithm to detect gestational aging-specific signatures of a progressing pregnancy for further episode support, and 3) pregnancy start date inference. Clinicians performed validation of HIPPS on a subset of episodes. We then generated three types of pregnancy cohorts based on the level of precision for gestational aging and pregnancy outcomes for comparison of COVID-19 and other characteristics. Results: We identified 628,165 pregnant persons with 816,471 pregnancy episodes, of which 52.3% were live births, 24.4% were other outcomes (stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortions), and 23.3% had unknown outcomes. We were able to estimate start dates within one week of precision for 431,173 (52.8%) episodes. 66,019 (8.1%) episodes had incident COVID-19 during pregnancy. Across varying COVID-19 cohorts, patient characteristics were generally similar though pregnancy outcomes differed. Discussion: HIPPS provides support for pregnancy-related variables based on EHR data for researchers to define pregnancy cohorts. Our approach performed well based on clinician validation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel and robust approach for inferring pregnancy episodes and gestational aging that addresses data inconsistency and missingness in EHR data.

Pregnancy affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection: a flash report from Michigan.

The world is currently affected by the invasion of a human to human highly transmissible novel corona virus classified as SARS-CoV-2. It causes a severe acute lower respiratory tract syndrome named corona virus disease (CoVid-19). The virus is detected primarily by RT-PCR. The reproduction number (Ro) has been reported between 2.28 and 5.27]. It is beyond our objective to provide an in-depth discussion of the virus characteristics and its distinct viral clades and pathogenic behavior. On 30 January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, (PHEIC) and on 11 March 2020 WHO declared it a pandemic. There is limited information on the effect of CoVid-19 in pregnancy and the new born. We describe the details of the hospital course of the first 16 cases involving pregnant women, admitted to an urban-suburban community general hospital in Wayne County Michigan, from 26 March to 10 April 2020. At the time of this writing the Covid-19 pandemic has affected 35,291 persons in the state of Michigan (0.37%) making it the third most affected state in the USA (MDHHS). Pregnant women are believed to be at higher risk of Covid-19 infection in association with the known physiologic changes of the immune, cardiorespiratory and metabolic systems during pregnancy.

Early unexpected diagnosis of fetal life-limiting malformation; antenatal palliative care and parental decision.

INTRODUCTION: Conjoined twins are an infrequent occurrence in obstetric practice. Live-conjoined twins on a late preterm triplet pregnancy is an even rarer event. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to emphasize the critical importance of perinatal palliative care and non-directive parental counseling, informed decision making and respect for autonomy following full disclosure of findings, fetal life-limiting diagnosis, treatment alternatives, maternal-fetal potential complications, and most likely perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Early surprise prenatal diagnosis, comprehensive parental counseling, palliative care, and perinatal care of a set of conjoined twins and a singleton. RESULTS: Cesarean delivery of a set of conjoined twins and a singleton at 34 weeks' gestation. Immediate neonatal death of the conjoined twins, intact survival, and discharge of the singleton. Review of the database on previously reported similar cases. It is very important to utilize simple and direct language for parents to understand the grave prognosis to the pregnancy. Care alternatives in view of the maternal physical risks and psychological impact of carrying a high order abnormal multiple pregnancy, along with the possible side effects on the singleton.

Does maternal obesity impact pregnancy-related deaths? Michigan experience.

Obesity is a multifactorial non-communicable condition that has become a public health epidemic worldwide. The Fifth Millennium Development Goal established the goal of a 75% reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) between 1990 and 2015. Maternal mortality has been difficult to track over time. Obesity affects pregnancy in more than 50% of women of reproductive age in the state of Michigan; the potential impact of maternal obesity and pregnancy-related deaths (PRDs) has not been studied in Michigan. We conducted a secondary analysis of maternal death cases originally reviewed by the Michigan Maternal Mortality Review Committee from 2004 to 2006 seeking to evaluate the impact of maternal obesity on PRD. Two hundred and five maternal deaths occurred during the period of the study, 61 were classified as PRD. The observed occurrence of PRDs in the obese population was 36 cases while in the non-obese was 25 cases. The study showed a 3.7× risk of PRD in the obese parturient.

Proceedings of the XIIth World Congress of Perinatal Medicine, Madrid, Spain, 3-6 November 2015.

XIIth World Congress of Perinatal Medicine, Madrid, Spain, 3-6 November 2015 The World Association of Perinatal Medicine convened its XIIth meeting in Madrid, Spain, 3-6 November 2015. More than 3000 health professionals from the world over and 200 speakers presented up-to-date clinical and basic material related to the care of pregnant women, fetus and neonate. Preceding the formal Congress several individual mini courses were offered. They were well attended and the audience had the opportunity to relate very closely to the speakers, an issue of great importance for young clinicians to share relevant clinical information. The identification and alternative treatments of threatened preterm birth and the care of the growth restricted newborn occupied significant amount of the speakers' efforts. Obesity, postpartum hemorrhage, maternal infections and morbidly adherent placenta were also addressed. 4 days of intensive learning and experience sharing were the result.

Perspectives in obesity and pregnancy.

Obesity is currently recognized as a health epidemic worldwide. Its prevalence has doubled in the last three decades. Obesity is a complex clinical picture associated with physical, physiologic, hormonal, genetic, cultural, socioeconomic and environmental factors. The rate of obesity is also increasing in the pregnant women population. Maternal obesity is associated with less than optimal obstetrical, fetal and neonatal outcomes. It is also associated with significant adverse long-term effects on both obese parturients and the infants born from obese women. A number of guidelines have been published to educate health care workers and the general population in an attempt to develop effective interventions on a large scale to prevent obesity. These guidelines are multiple, confusing and inconsistent. There are no standard recommendations regarding gestational weight gaining goals, nutrients and additional elements necessary for certain obese women who have been treated with bariatric surgical procedures, screening for metabolic diseases such as diabetes, additional preventive health care services indicated for obese women in the pregnancy planning stages, during prenatal care, in the immediate post-partum period and as a long-term approach for health preservation. In 2013, the American Medical Association supported by several US national medical specialty organizations published Resolution 420 (A-13) recognizing obesity as a disease state with multiple pathophysiological aspects requiring a range of interventions to improve its prevention and treatment. The goal of this decision was to encourage a broader spectrum of health care benefits insurance coverage for the prevention and treatment of obesity. There are a number of myths and misconceptions associated with obesity. These perspectives present our views and clinical experience with a partial review of recent bibliography addressing the associations between obese reproductive age women and their risks during pregnancy.

The role of placental alpha microglobulin-1 amnisure in determining the status of the fetal membranes; its association with preterm birth. Traditions traditions .

The integrity of the fetal amnion-chorion is an imperative for the preservation of a normal pregnancy in the human. The diagnosis of the status of the fetal membranes has traditionally been reduced to either intact or ruptured. In the last decades, evidence has accumulated demonstrating that this clinical approach may well be an over simplification. Practically, all maternal organs experienced physiologic or eventually pathologic changes during the length of the gestational period. We propose that the fetal membranes are also significantly impacted by those changes. The accurate, specific, simplified and low-cost diagnosis of the status of the fetal membranes is of critical importance for the assessment of risk to the pregnancy followed by efficient and prompt treatment. The presence of placental alpha macroglobulin-1 in the vagina specifically indicates a disruption in the integrity of the fetal membranes and may indirectly mean increased risk for preterm birth. Further research to properly characterize this marker and its importance in the care of pregnant woman at risk for preterm birth is strongly recommended.

Are we ready for a new look at the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes?

Premature rupture of membranes is a significant contributor to preterm birth with its associated short- and long-term complications. The absence of a standard approach to its management places a burden on the clinicians' ability to promptly and accurately diagnose premature rupture of membranes. For the last half century, there have been no significant changes in the way premature ruptured membranes is diagnosed. With the advent of newer, amniotic fluid-specific, noninvasive, and accurate markers, there is an opportunity to update the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

Conversión intrauterina de taquicardia supraventricular fetal con el uso de digital y verapamil / Intrauterine conversion of fetal supraventricular tachycardia with the use of digitalis and verapamil

Los autores presentan una observación de un feto que a las 29 semanas de una gestación por lo demás normal, presentaba una taquiarritmia supraventricular de alrededor de 240 latidos por minuto. Luego del estudio clínico completo, se inició tratamiento mediante digitalización materna con lo que se lograron cortos períodos de ritmo sinusal fetal, con reincidencias en la taquiarritmia, por lo que se recurrió al uso del verapamil, con lo que se consiguó la normalización del ritmo hasta el parto. Tanto este efecto terapéutico como los dosajes de verapamil en sangre demuestran que esta droga atraviesa la placenta, cosa hasta ahora un tanto discutida

Conversión intrauterina de taquicardia supraventricular fetal con el uso de digital y verapamil / Intrauterine conversion of fetal supraventricular tachycardia with the use of digitalis and verapamil

Los autores presentan una observación de un feto que a las 29 semanas de una gestación por lo demás normal, presentaba una taquiarritmia supraventricular de alrededor de 240 latidos por minuto. Luego del estudio clínico completo, se inició tratamiento mediante digitalización materna con lo que se lograron cortos períodos de ritmo sinusal fetal, con reincidencias en la taquiarritmia, por lo que se recurrió al uso del verapamil, con lo que se consiguó la normalización del ritmo hasta el parto. Tanto este efecto terapéutico como los dosajes de verapamil en sangre demuestran que esta droga atraviesa la placenta, cosa hasta ahora un tanto discutida (AU)