Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection in pregnant and non-pregnant women hospitalized in Singapore, May – December 2009. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, C.; Ang, L.W.; Tey, S.H.; James, L.; Kanagalingam, D.; Su, L.L.; Tan, H.K.; Yong, E.L.; Lim, M.L.
• Is Part Of: Public health. Volume 129:Issue 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 769
• Page End: 776
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Public health -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.04.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3506

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Objectives</title> <p id="abspara0010">The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of pregnant women and non-pregnant women of childbearing age hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection in Singapore, and to assess whether pregnancy was a risk factor associated with the development of influenza-related complications.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Study design</title> <p id="abspara0015">Retrospective observational study.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Methods</title> <p id="abspara0020">We retrospectively identified and collected information from available medical records of all women admitted to three tertiary hospitals between 26 May 2009 and 31 December 2009 with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection who were either pregnant or non-pregnant and of childbearing age between 15 and 50 years.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0030">Results</title> <p id="abspara0025">A total of 222 women, of whom 81 (36.5%) were pregnant, were hospitalized during the study period. Pregnant women were significantly more likely to be hospitalized with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection than non-pregnant women of childbearing age (relative risk 26.3; 95% confidence interval: 20.1–34.6). Among those hospitalized, the proportion of pregnant women having at least one underlying medical condition that could predispose them to influenza-related complications was significantly lower than that of non-pregnant women (32.1% versus 56.0%, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The median time from onset of symptoms to administration of anti-viral drugs was significantly shorter among pregnant women than among non-pregnant women (three days versus five days, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The median length of stay in hospital was also significantly shorter among pregnant women than that of non-pregnant women (two days versus three days, <italic>P</italic> = 0.002). About 4.9% of pregnant women developed influenza-related complications, compared with 12.8% among non-pregnant women (<italic>P</italic> = 0.066).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0035">Conclusions</title> <p id="abspara0030">Pregnant women with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection were at a higher risk of hospitalization. Upon hospitalization, they were not at a higher risk of developing influenza-related complications.</p> </sec> </abstract>