Mode of Delivery and Neonatal Outcome in Adolescent Pregnancy (13-16 Years Old) Associated with Anemia.

Background: Adolescent pregnancy represents an important public-health problem due to its maternal and fetal outcomes. Adolescent patients are predisposed to multiple obstetrical complications, including anemia and preterm birth which has a higher incidence among this population; withal, in the specialty literature, anemia is considered to be a risk factor for preterm delivery; furthermore, multiple studies have demonstrated that a very young age is an independent risk factor for preterm birth. Objectives: The study aims to reveal if anemia during adolescent pregnancy has a negative impact on the time and mode of delivery and newborns' outcomes. Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective multicentric study on adolescent pregnancy. We analyzed 172 patients aged between 13 and 16 years who delivered in two large tertiary hospitals between 1 October 2018 and 15 April 2022. We divided the patients into two groups­a study group (n = 64) with anemia and a control group (n = 108) without anemia. We evaluated the modes of delivery, the times of birth, and the neonatal outcomes by 1-min newborn's Apgar score, neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) admission, and the newborns' weights. Results: The rate of cesarean section was higher in patients with anemia than in the control group (45.31% vs. 38.88%, p < 0.001). We found that patients between 13 and 16 years diagnosed with anemia have a higher risk of preterm birth than those without anemia (35.93% vs. 21.29%, p < 0.001); however, an increased rate of LBW neonates was observed in the anemic adolescent group ≤14 years (p < 0.001). Regarding the newborns' 1-min Apgar score, NICU admission, no statistically significant differences were recorded between the two groups according to the severity of anemia. In the anemic patients' group, prenatal screening was identified in 9.37% of cases, while in the control group, in 16.67% (p = 0.034), which represents negative predictive factors, along with a low socio-economic status for the presence of anemia in young adolescent patients. Conclusions: Anemia is a risk factor for preterm birth, LBW, and cesarean section in young adolescent pregnancy. The association of lack of prenatal care and low socio-economic status worsens maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Preeclampsia and neonatal outcomes in adolescent and adult patients.

Preeclampsia is an important health problem with a higher prevalence in the adolescent population. Furthermore, preeclampsia causes adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Newborns can be affected by preeclampsia, resulting in lower birth weight or Apgar score, the need for neonatal intensive care, or prematurity. All these complications are also associated with adolescent pregnancies, and together with preeclampsia, it can determine poorer neonatal outcomes. The aim of the study was to compare the neonatal outcomes of adolescents and adults with preeclampsia. We analyzed data on all the newborns of adolescents with preeclampsia (n=12) who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest between January 1st, 2019, and December 31st, 2019 and compared it with data from 12 aleatory newborns of adults diagnosed with preeclampsia. The prevalence of preeclampsia was higher in the adolescent population compared with the adult one. The weight of newborns was lower among adolescents with preeclampsia. There were no significant differences in Apgar scores between the two groups. Preterm delivery was more frequent in adolescent patients with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is an additional risk factor for adolescent pregnancy, but it is also a severe materno-fetal complication for this population.

Difference between Preterm Birth in Adolescent and Adult Patients.

Background: Preterm delivery represents an important public health problem due to its neonatal outcomes. There are numerous complications that occur due to prematurity, but the most significant one is represented by neonatal death. Even if the certain mechanism of prematurity is elusive, there are various risk factors known to be involved in the etiology of preterm birth, among which one is young age. Objectives: The present study aims to find whether preterm delivery has a higher rate in adolescent patients and if neonatal outcomes are different in adolescent and adult patients. Patients and methods:We performed an observational retrospective study about preterm infants from adolescent and adult patients. Thus, we analyzed 96 patients aged between 13 and 38 years who delivered in our unit between October 1st 2018 and December 31st 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: a study group (n=59), which included adolescents who delivered preterm, and a control group (n=37), which comprised adult patients who delivered preterm. We evaluated the rate of prematurity of all births and among patients enrolled in the present study and the neonatal outcome by newborn's weight, one-minute newborn's Apgar score and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission. Results:In our study, the rate of prematurity was higher in adolescent patients, with a rate of 61.46%. The newborns' outcomes, analyzed by newborn's weight and one-minute Apgar score, were better in adolescent patients compared to adult ones. Therefore, newborns from adult patients needed neonatal intensive care more often, with a rate of 62.16%, while in the study group the percentage was 38.98%. The rate of antenatal care was higher in adult patients compared to adolescent ones (32.43% versus 27.12%). Conclusion:Adolescents have a higher risk of preterm delivery; however, their newborns have better outcomes than those of adult patients. The lack of antenatal care represents a risk factor for preterm delivery.

A retrospective study regarding the method of delivery of adolescents in a Romanian Hospital.

Adolescent pregnancies are associated with a high number of risks for the newborn and mother. Hence, an increased number of emergency caesarean extractions are performed in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the pregnancy-related conditions, the way of delivery and the neonatal outcome of all the patients who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, a tertiary unit in Romania in a period of 5 years. An observational, retrospective study was performed on a group of 686 patients, aged 12 to 19 years, who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018. The pregnant women were divided into two age groups. In the first group were pregnant patients aged under 18 years, and in the second group pregnant adolescents between 18 and 19 years. Whether the patients underwent prenatal screening was analyzed. Furthermore, the age of the patients, the rate of caesarean extraction and vaginal birth and the obstetrical complications were evaluated and compared. The outcome of the newborns was assessed based on Apgar score at 1 min and birth weight. Regarding the results, 464 of the 686 patients did not undergo any medical visits during pregnancy. In total, 52.76% of the patients delivered by caesarean section. The most frequent indications for caesarean extraction, in both analyzed groups, were Cephalo-pelvic disproportion, fetal distress and uterine scar after caesarean section. The lack of specific protocols regarding the ante-, peri- and post-natal management of adolescents is probably the cause of the alarmingly increasing number of patients pertaining to the group who deliver by caesarean section.