Critical illness due to 2009 A/H1N1 influenza in pregnant and postpartum women: population based cohort study
Abstract
Objective To describe the epidemiology of 2009 A/H1N1 influenza in critically ill pregnant women.
Design Population based cohort study.
Setting All intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand.
Participants
All women with 2009 H1N1 influenza who were pregnant or recently post
partum and admitted to an intensive care unit in Australia or New
Zealand between 1 June and 31 August 2009.
Main outcome measures Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.
Results
64 pregnant or postpartum women admitted to an intensive care unit had
confirmed 2009 H1N1 influenza. Compared with non-pregnant women of
childbearing age, pregnant or postpartum women with 2009 H1N1 influenza
were at increased risk of admission to an intensive care unit (relative
risk 7.4, 95% confidence interval 5.5 to 10.0). This risk was 13-fold
greater (13.2, 9.6 to 18.3) for women at 20 or more weeks’ gestation. At
the time of admission to an intensive care unit, 22 women (34%) were
post partum and two had miscarried. 14 women (22%) gave birth during
their stay in intensive care and 26 (41%) were discharged from an
intensive care unit with ongoing pregnancy. All subsequently delivered.
44 women (69%) were mechanically ventilated. Of these, nine (14%) were
treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Seven women (11%)
died. Of 60 births after 20 weeks’ gestation, four were stillbirths and
three were infant deaths. 22 (39%) of the liveborn babies were preterm
and 32 (57%) were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Of 20
babies tested, two were positive for the 2009 H1N1 virus.
Conclusions
Pregnancy is a risk factor for critical illness related to 2009 H1N1
influenza, which causes maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Edited from bmj.com
Picture from monografias.com
#H1N1 #pregnant
