Obstetric complications among US women with asthma

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013 Feb;208(2):127.e1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.11.007. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to characterize complications of pregnancy, labor, and delivery associated with maternal asthma in a contemporary US cohort.

Study design: We studied a retrospective cohort based on electronic medical record data from 223,512 singleton deliveries from 12 clinical centers across the United States from 2002 through 2008.

Results: Women with asthma had higher odds of preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.22), superimposed preeclampsia (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.15-1.56), gestational diabetes (aOR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.03-1.19), placental abruption (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.36), and placenta previa (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.08-1.56). Asthmatic women had a higher odds of preterm birth overall (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.12-1.23) and of medically indicated preterm delivery (aOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.29). Asthmatics were less likely to have spontaneous labor (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.84-0.90) and vaginal delivery (aOR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.80-0.87). Risks were higher for breech presentation (aOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.05-1.22), hemorrhage (aOR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16), pulmonary embolism (aOR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.05-2.79), and maternal intensive care unit admission (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04-1.72).

Conclusion: Maternal asthma increased risk for nearly all outcomes studied in a general obstetric population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asthma / complications*
  • Cesarean Section / statistics & numerical data
  • Cohort Studies
  • Delivery, Obstetric / methods*
  • Diabetes, Gestational / epidemiology
  • Diabetes, Gestational / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Odds Ratio
  • Placenta Diseases / epidemiology
  • Placenta Diseases / etiology
  • Pre-Eclampsia / epidemiology
  • Pre-Eclampsia / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications*
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology*
  • Premature Birth / epidemiology
  • Premature Birth / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • United States / epidemiology