COVID-19 in pregnancy by race and ethnicity: Implications for development of a vaccination strategy.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 and associated morbidity and mortality has disproportionately affected minoritized populations. The epidemiology of spread of COVID-19 among pregnant women by race/ethnicity is not well described. Using data from a large healthcare system in California, we estimated prevalence and spread during pregnancy and recommend a vaccination approach based on minimizing adverse outcomes. METHODS: Patients delivering at Sutter Health are tested (molecular) for COVID-19. These results were combined with antibody test results, using samples drawn at delivery. For each racial/ethnic group, we estimated prevalence of COVID-19, using logistic regression to adjust for known sociodemographic and comorbid risk factors. Testing for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M provided insight into timing of infections. RESULTS: Among 17,446 women delivering May-December, 460 (2.6%) tested positive (molecular). Hispanic women were at 2.6 times the odds of being actively infected as White women (odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval = 2.0-3.3). August and December were the highest risk periods for active infection (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% confidence interval = 2.1-5.7 and odds ratio = 6.1, 95% confidence interval = 3.8-9.9, compared with May, respectively). Among 4500 women delivering October-December, 425 (9.4%) had positive molecular or antibody tests, ranging from 4.0% (Asian) to 15.7% (Hispanic). Adjusting for covariables, compared with White patients, odds of infection was similar for Black and Asian patients, with Hispanic at 2.4 (1.8-3.3) times the odds. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 prevalence was higher among Hispanic women at delivery and in the last trimester than their White counterparts. Higher rates in Black patients are explained by other risk factors. Resources should be directed to increase vaccination rates among Hispanic women in early stages of pregnancy.

Recruitment, retention, and adherence in a randomized feasibility trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for patients with migraine.

OBJECTIVES: Increasing evidence demonstrates effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for pain-related and functional disorders. In order to conduct successful and efficient trials of MBSR, evidence regarding the relative performance of strategies to improve recruitment, retention, and adherence is required, but few studies have examined these issues specifically. DESIGN: In preparation for a fully powered trial, we conducted a 2-arm, parallel comparison randomized controlled feasibility trial of MBSR vs. usual-care for 60 patients with migraine headache. SETTING: Two large U.S. health systems in Northern California. INTERVENTION: MBSR is an 8-week classroom-based intervention that combines mindfulness meditation and yoga, with didactic presentations about stress psychology and group process/experiential education. Participants received the intervention at their choice of one of several existing, vetted community-based classes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Successful recruitment was defined a priori as 18 participants within any 9-week period or 60 participants enrolled within a 36-week period. We considered participants adherent to the intervention if they attended at least 5 of the 8 weekly classes and the day-long retreat. RESULTS: We successfully enrolled 18 participants within a 7-week period, however, we did not attain our second goal of recruiting 60 participants within a 36-week period. Sixty-eight percent of our participants were adherent to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We found that close monitoring of recruitment activities, flexibility in protocol modifications, and integration within the delivery system were crucial factors for successful participant recruitment, retention, and adherence in mindfulness research.