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Gestational diabetes (GDM) impacts approximately 17 million pregnancies worldwide. Women with a history of GDM have an 8-10-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 2-fold higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with women without prior GDM. Although it is possible to prevent and/or delay progression of GDM to type 2 diabetes, this is not widely undertaken. Considering the increasing global rates of type 2 diabetes and CVD in women, it is essential to utilize pregnancy as an opportunity to identify women at risk and initiate preventive intervention. This article reviews existing clinical guidelines for postpartum identification and management of women with previous GDM and identifies key recommendations for the prevention and/or delayed progression to type 2 diabetes for global clinical practice.

ObjectiveTo describe the study design of the COPE Staff cohort study on working conditions for maternal and neonatal healthcare workers (MNHCWs), and present baseline data regarding job satisfaction, work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout. MethodsBetween January and April 2021, 957 MNHCWs (administrative and medical staff) completed a baseline survey. Average levels of job satisfaction, work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout, and associations to perceived workload were assessed. ResultsThe average levels of job satisfaction, work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout were 68.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 64.3-72.8), 42.6 (95% CI 37.3-48.0), 42.0 (95% CI 37.7-46.3), and 1.9 (95% CI 1.6-2.2), respectively. The respondents scoring above critical values indicating clinical burnout ranged between 3% and 18%, respectively, for the four burnout sub-dimensions. Women reported significantly higher levels of stress and burnout. Younger participants had lower job satisfaction and higher levels of work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout. Higher perceived workload was significantly associated with lower job satisfaction levels and higher levels of work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout. ConclusionsOur results indicate associations between MNHCWs perceived workload and job satisfaction, work-life conflicts, stress, and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen percent scored above critical values for exhaustion.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia complicates 3-5% of all pregnancies and is associated with higher levels of asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric (SDMA) dimethylarginines. Dimethylarginines are inhibitors of nitric oxide, which is a uterine smooth muscles relaxant. Women with hypertensive disorders experience a shorter labor duration compared to normotensive women. However, very little is known about the possible biochemical mechanisms behind differences in labor duration. In this study we aimed to investigate if women with preeclampsia had higher levels of arginines (ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine) at labor than controls, and also investigate the association between arginines and labor duration.

METHODS: The study was based on data from the Swedish, Uppsala County population-based, prospective cohort BASIC, between 2009 and 2018. Arginines were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography using plasma samples taken at labor from women with preeclampsia (n=47) and normotensive pregnancy (n=90). We also analyzed inflammation markers CRP, TNF-R1, TNF-R2 and GDF-15.

RESULTS: Women with preeclampsia had higher levels of ADMA (p<0.001), SDMA (p<0.001), L-arginine (p<0.001), TNF-R1 (p<0.001), TNF-R2 (p=0.03) and GDF-15 (p<0.01) compared to controls. Further, ADMA and SDMA, not inflammation markers, were negatively correlated to labor duration in preeclampsia. No correlations were observed when comparing arginines and inflammation markers.

CONCLUSIONS: Among women with preeclampsia, our novel findings of higher level of arigines, negative correlation of arginines to duration of labor and absence of correlation of arginines to inflammation markers might support the theory that it is not inflammation but arginines which could be associated with shorter duration of labor in preeclampsia.

Problem: Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity. The pathogenesis of PTB is complex and involves many factors, including socioeconomy, inflammation and infection. Asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine, SDMA are involved in labor as inhibitors of nitric oxide, a known relaxant of the uterine smooth muscles. Arginines are scarcely studied in relation to PTB and we aimed to investigate arginines (ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine) in women with spontaneous PTB and term birth.

Methods of the Study: The study was based on data from the population-based, prospective cohort BASIC study conducted in Uppsala County, Sweden, between September 2009 and November 2018. Arginines were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography using plasma samples taken at the onset of labor from women with spontaneous PTB (n = 34) and term birth (n = 45). We also analyzed the inflammation markers CRP, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 and GDF-15.

Results: Women with spontaneous PTB had higher plasma levels of ADMA (p < 0.001), and L-Arginine (p = 0.03). In addition, inflammation marker, TNF-R1 (p = 0.01) was higher in spontaneous PTB compared to term birth. Further, in spontaneous PTB, no significant correlations could be observed when comparing levels of arginines with inflammation markers, except ADMA versus CRP.

Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence for the potential involvement of arginines in the pathogenesis of spontaneous PTB and it seems that arginine levels at labor vary independently of several inflammatory markers. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential of arginines as therapeutic targets in the prevention and management of spontaneous PTB.

Objective Preterm birth (PTB, birth before 37 gestational weeks) is the leading cause of neonatal death and a major challenge for obstetric and neonatal care. About two-thirds of PTBs are spontaneous PTB (sPTB), of which approximately 30% start with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors and maternal and perinatal outcomes in sPTB with and without PPROM.

Study Design This is a national population-based cohort study including all singleton pregnancies in nulliparous women with spontaneous onset of labor and vaginal births (n = 266,968) registered in the Swedish Medical Birth Register 2005 to 2014. sPTB with PPROM (sPTB-PPROM) and sPTB without PPROM were compared regarding risk factors and maternal and perinatal outcomes. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjustments were made for maternal age, body mass index, country of birth, smoking, chronic hypertension, pregestational and gestational diabetes, and gestational length.

Results sPTB-PPROM (n = 5,037), compared with sPTB without PPROM (n = 8,426), was more common in women with previous spontaneous abortions, prepregnancy urinary tract infections, chronic hypertension, and gestational diabetes and had a higher risk of postpartum endometritis (aOR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.55–5.00). Infants born to women with sPTB-PPROM had a lower risk of birth asphyxia (aOR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43–0.83), respiratory distress syndrome (aOR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.70–1.00), retinopathy of prematurity (aOR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92–0.94), necrotizing enterocolitis (aOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.94–0.96), and higher risk of hypoglycemia (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01–1.28), and hyperbilirubinemia (aOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.19–1.38) compared with infants born to sPTB without PPROM.

Conclusion Our findings of risk factors and distinct differences in adverse outcomes after sPTB-PPROM compared with sPTB without PPROM are of vital importance and might serve as a basis when elaborating programs for the prevention and management of PPROM.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pre-eclampsia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. However, conventional common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) measurement does not reflect this. In contrast, measurement of the individual CCA intima and media thicknesses clearly indicates increased vascular risk both at diagnosis and about one year after pre-eclampsia. This study examined whether individual CCA wall layers, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and markers of endothelial dysfunction had normalized or remained unfavorable seven years after pre-eclampsia.

METHODS: The individual CCA intima and media thicknesses were measured using 22 MHz ultrasound. Conventional cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. A thick intima, thin media and high intima/media thickness ratio (I/M) are signs of sub-clinical atherosclerosis.

RESULTS: The median age of women with previous pre-eclampsia (cases = 23) or normal pregnancies (controls = 35) was 39/37 years. At follow-up (median about seven years), the intima remained thicker and the I/M was higher in cases than in controls [all p < 0.0001; p < 0.001 after adjustment for time to follow-up, body mass index (BMI), and mean arterial pressure (MAP)], whereas the CCA-IMT was illogically thinner. Further, BMI, MAP, hip circumference, abdominal height, serum endostatin and apolipoprotein B levels were higher in cases (all p < 0.05). Intima and I/M measurements were correlated with age, MAP, endostatin and apolipoprotein B, whereas no logical correlations were found for CCA-IMT.

CONCLUSIONS: The arteries in cases but not controls were still adversely affected after seven years. Measuring intima thickness and I/M appears preferable to measuring CCA-IMT for demonstrating vascular risk after pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. In PE there is a substantial increase in levels of the anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and decreased levels of the pro-angiogenic factor placental growth factor (PlGF). Elevated levels of sFlt1 are also found in individuals with CVD. The aims of this study were to assess sFlt1, PlGF and the sFlt1/PlGF ratio and their correlation with signs of arterial aging by measuring common carotid artery (CCA) intima and media thicknesses and their ratio (I/M ratio) in women with and without PE.

METHODS: Serum sFlt1 and PlGF levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and CCA intima and media thicknesses were estimated using high-frequency (22 MHz) ultrasonography in 55 women at PE diagnosis and 64 women with normal pregnancies at a similar gestational age, with reassessment one year postpartum. A thick intima, thin media and a high I/M ratio indicate a less healthy arterial wall.

RESULTS: During pregnancy, higher levels of sFlt1, lower levels of PlGF and thicker intima, thinner media and higher I/M ratios were found in women with PE vs. controls (all p < 0.0001). Further, sFlt1 and the sFlt1/PlGF ratio were positively correlated with intima thickness and I/M ratio (all p < 0.0001), but negatively correlated with media thickness (p = 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). About one year postpartum, levels of sFlt1 and the sFlt1/PlGF ratio had decreased in both groups, but compared with controls women in the PE group still had higher levels (p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). Further, sFlt1 levels and the sFlt1/PlGF ratio were still positively correlated with intima thickness and I/M ratio.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher sFlt1 levels and sFlt1/PlGF ratios in women with PE were positively associated with signs of arterial aging during pregnancy. About one year postpartum sFlt1 levels and the sFlt1/PlGF ratios were still higher in the PE group, and also associated with the degree of arterial aging.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) in pregnancy is a state of exaggerated inflammation and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Levels of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a novel inflammation marker, are increased during PE and in individuals with CVD. The primary aim of this study was to assess whether serum PTX3 in women with PE is associated with adverse arterial effects; a thicker intima and higher intima/media (I/M) ratio in the common carotid artery (CCA).

METHODS: Serum PTX3 levels were measured using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and individual CCA intima and media thicknesses were estimated by 22MHz non-invasive ultrasound in 55 women at PE diagnosis and 64 women with normal pregnancies at a similar gestational age, and about one year postpartum. A thick intima, thin media and high I/M ratio indicate a less healthy artery wall.

RESULTS: During pregnancy serum PTX3 correlated positively with intima thickness and I/M ratio but negatively with media thickness (all p<0.0001), indicating adverse arterial effects. About one year postpartum, PTX3 levels had decreased in both groups and there remained no significant group difference or significant correlation with CCA wall layers.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of serum PTX3 in women with PE were significantly associated with signs of adverse arterial effects during pregnancy, but not one year postpartum, supporting the rapid dynamics of PTX3.

Objectives: Asymmetric- and symmetric dimethylarginines (ADMA, SDMA) are elevated in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome and is an independent risk factor for subsequent CVD. Aims were to investigate whether ADMA, SDMA levels and L-arginine/ADMA and I.arginine/SDMA ratios during pregnancy and their changes from pregnancy to postpartum are associated to arterial wall layer dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors in women with and without preeclampsia. Study design: Dimethylarginines were analyzed by LC-MS, and the common-carotid-artery (CCA) intima and media thicknesses were estimated using 22-MHz non-invasive ultrasonography in women with preeclampsia (cases = 48) and normal pregnancies (controls = 58) in similar gestational age, with reassessment one-year postpartum. A thick intima, thin media and high intima/media ratio (I/M) indicates a less healthy arterial wall. Results: The median age of cases and controls was 30 years. During pregnancy, women with preeclampsia had higher plasma ADMA, SDMA and lower t-arginine/ADMA and L-arginine/SDMA (all p <0.01) than women with normal pregnancies. Further, ADMA, SDMA, L-arginine/ADMA and L-arginine/SDMA correlated to intima thickness (r(s) = 0.33/0.33/-0.33/-0.35 and p <0.01), UM (r(s) = 0.26/0.28/-0.22/-0.26 and p <0.05) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (rs = 0.43/0.42/-0.39/-0.40 and p <0.0001). Changes in ADMA, SDMA and t-arginine/SDMA from pregnancy to postpartum correlated to changes in intima thickness (r(s) = 0.22/0.32/-0.21 and p < 0.05/<0.01/<0.05), I/M (r(s) = 0.22/0.31/0.08 and p < 0.05/<0.01/=0.43) and MAP (r(s) = 0.31/0.53/-0.25 and p < 0.01/<0.001/<0.05). No correlations were found for conventional CCA intima-media-thickness. Conclusions: Dimethylarginines were associated to signs of adverse effects on arterial wall layer dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors in women with and without preeclampsia, during pregnancy and to their changes from pregnancy up to one-year postpartum. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Objective To assess the cost-effectiveness of induction of labour (IOL) at 41 weeks of gestation compared with expectant management until 42 weeks of gestation. Design A cost-effectiveness analysis alongside the Swedish Post-term Induction Study (SWEPIS), a multicentre, randomised controlled superiority trial. Setting Fourteen Swedish hospitals during 2016-2018. Population Women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy with a fetus in cephalic position were randomised at 41 weeks of gestation to IOL or to expectant management and induction at 42 weeks of gestation. Methods Health benefits were measured in life years and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for mother and child. Total cost per birth was calculated, including healthcare costs from randomisation to discharge after delivery, for mother and child. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated by dividing the difference in mean cost between the trial arms by the difference in life years and QALYs, respectively. Sampling uncertainty was evaluated using non-parametric bootstrapping. Main outcome measures The cost per gained life year and per gained QALY. Results The differences in life years and QALYs gained were driven by the difference in perinatal mortality alone. The absolute risk reduction in mortality was 0.004 (from 6/1373 to 0/1373). Based on Swedish life tables, this gives a mean gain in discounted life years and QALYs of 0.14 and 0.12 per birth, respectively. The mean cost per birth was euro4108 in the IOL group (n = 1373) and euro4037 in the expectant management group (n = 1373), with a mean difference of euro71 (95% CI -euro232 to euro379). The ICER for IOL compared with expectant management was euro545 per life year gained and euro623 per QALY gained. Confidence intervals were relatively wide and included the possibility that IOL had both lower costs and better health outcomes. Conclusions Induction of labour at 41 weeks of gestation results in a better health outcome and no significant difference in costs. IOL is cost-effective compared with expectant management until 42 weeks of gestation using standard threshold values for acceptable cost per life year/QALY. Tweetable abstract Induction of labour at 41 weeks of gestation is cost-effective compared with expectant management until 42 weeks of gestation.

BackgroundThe risk of perinatal death and severe neonatal morbidity increases gradually after 41 weeks of pregnancy. Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed if induction of labour (IOL) in uncomplicated pregnancies at 41 weeks will improve perinatal outcomes. We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) on this subject.Methods and findingsWe searched PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (Embase), The Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO on February 21, 2020 for RCTs comparing IOL at 41 weeks with expectant management until 42 weeks in women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Individual participant data (IPD) were sought from eligible RCTs. Primary outcome was a composite of severe adverse perinatal outcomes: mortality and severe neonatal morbidity. Additional outcomes included neonatal admission, mode of delivery, perineal lacerations, and postpartum haemorrhage. Prespecified subgroup analyses were conducted for parity (nulliparous/multiparous), maternal age (<35/≥35 years), and body mass index (BMI) (<30/≥30). Aggregate data meta-analysis (MA) was performed to include data from RCTs for which IPD was not available.

From 89 full-text articles, we identified three eligible RCTs (n = 5,161), and two contributed with IPD (n = 4,561). Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups regarding age, parity, BMI, and higher level of education. IOL resulted overall in a decrease of severe adverse perinatal outcome (0.4% [10/2,281] versus 1.0% [23/2,280]; relative risk [RR] 0.43 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21 to 0.91], p-value 0.027, risk difference [RD] −57/10,000 [95% CI −106/10,000 to −8/10,000], I2 0%). The number needed to treat (NNT) was 175 (95% CI 94 to 1,267).

Perinatal deaths occurred in one (<0.1%) versus eight (0.4%) pregnancies (Peto odds ratio [OR] 0.21 [95% CI 0.06 to 0.78], p-value 0.019, RD −31/10,000, [95% CI −56/10,000 to −5/10,000], I2 0%, NNT 326, [95% CI 177 to 2,014]) and admission to a neonatal care unit ≥4 days occurred in 1.1% (24/2,280) versus 1.9% (46/2,273), (RR 0.52 [95% CI 0.32 to 0.85], p-value 0.009, RD −97/10,000 [95% CI −169/10,000 to −26/10,000], I2 0%, NNT 103 [95% CI 59 to 385]). There was no difference in the rate of cesarean delivery (10.5% versus 10.7%; RR 0.98, [95% CI 0.83 to 1.16], p-value 0.81) nor in other important perinatal, delivery, and maternal outcomes. MA on aggregate data showed similar results.

Prespecified subgroup analyses for the primary outcome showed a significant difference in the treatment effect (p = 0.01 for interaction) for parity, but not for maternal age or BMI. The risk of severe adverse perinatal outcome was decreased for nulliparous women in the IOL group (0.3% [4/1,219] versus 1.6% [20/1,264]; RR 0.20 [95% CI 0.07 to 0.60], p-value 0.004, RD −127/10,000, [95% CI −204/10,000 to −50/10,000], I2 0%, NNT 79 [95% CI 49 to 201]) but not for multiparous women (0.6% [6/1,219] versus 0.3% [3/1,264]; RR 1.59 [95% CI 0.15 to 17.30], p-value 0.35, RD 27/10,000, [95% CI −29/10,000 to 84/10,000], I2 55%).

A limitation of this IPD-MA was the risk of overestimation of the effect on perinatal mortality due to early stopping of the largest included trial for safety reasons after the advice of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board. Furthermore, only two RCTs were eligible for the IPD-MA; thus, the possibility to assess severe adverse neonatal outcomes with few events was limited.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that, overall, IOL at 41 weeks improved perinatal outcome compared with expectant management until 42 weeks without increasing the cesarean delivery rate. This benefit is shown only in nulliparous women, whereas for multiparous women, the incidence of mortality and morbidity was too low to demonstrate any effect. The magnitude of risk reduction of perinatal mortality remains uncertain. Women with pregnancies approaching 41 weeks should be informed on the risk differences according to parity so that they are able to make an informed choice for IOL at 41 weeks or expectant management until 42 weeks.

Introduction

Induction of labor is increasing. A common indication for induction of labor is late term and postterm pregnancy at 41 weeks or more. We aimed to evaluate if there are any differences regarding efficacy, safety, and women's childbirth experience between oral misoprostol and transvaginal balloon catheter for cervical ripening in women with a low-risk singleton pregnancy and induction of labor at 41⁺⁰ to 42^{+0 to 1} weeks of gestation.

Material and methods

In this observational study, based on data from the Swedish Postterm Induction Study (SWEPIS), a multicenter randomized controlled trial, a total of 1213 women with a low-risk singleton pregnancy at 41 to 42 weeks of gestation were induced with oral misoprostol (n = 744) or transvaginal balloon catheter (n = 469) at 15 Swedish delivery hospitals. The primary efficacy outcome was vaginal delivery within 24 h and primary safety outcomes were neonatal and maternal composite adverse outcomes. Secondary outcomes included time to vaginal delivery and mode of delivery. Women's childbirth experience was assessed with the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ 2.0) and visual analog scale. We present crude and adjusted mean differences and relative risks (RR) with 95% CI. Adjustment was performed for a propensity score based on delivery hospital and baseline characteristics including Bishop score.

Results

Vaginal delivery within 24 h was significantly lower in the misoprostol group compared with the balloon catheter group (46.5% [346/744] vs 62.7% [294/469]; adjusted RR 0.76 95% CI 0.640.89]). Primary neonatal and maternal safety outcomes did not differ between groups (neonatal composite 3.5% [36/744] vs 3.2% [15/469]; adjusted RR 0.77 [95% CI 0.31–1.89]; maternal composite 2.3% [17/744] vs 1.9% [9/469]; adjusted RR 1.70 [95% CI 0.58–4.97]). Adjusted mean time to vaginal delivery was increased by 3.8 h (95% CI 1.3–6.2 h) in the misoprostol group. Non-operative vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery rates did not differ. Women's childbirth experience was positive overall and similar in both groups.

Conclusions

Induction of labor with oral misoprostol compared with a transvaginal balloon catheter was associated with a lower probability of vaginal delivery within 24 h and a longer time to vaginal delivery. However, primary safety outcomes, non-operative vaginal delivery, and women's childbirth experience were similar in both groups. Therefore, both methods can be recommended in women with low-risk postdate pregnancies.

Background Cerebral injury is a common cause of maternal mortality due to preeclampsia and is challenging to predict and diagnose. In addition, there are associations between previous preeclampsia and stroke, dementia and epilepsy later in life. The cerebral biomarkers S100B, neuron specific enolase, (NSE), tau protein and neurofilament light chain (NfL) have proven useful as predictors and diagnostic tools in other neurological disorders. This case-control study sought to determine whether cerebral biomarkers were increased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a marker of cerebral origin and potential cerebral injury in preeclampsia and if concentrations in CSF correlated to concentrations in plasma. Methods CSF and blood at delivery from 15 women with preeclampsia and 15 women with normal pregnancies were analysed for the cerebral biomarkers S100B, NSE, tau protein and NfL by Simoa and ELISA based methods. MRI brain was performed after delivery and for women with preeclampsia also at six months postpartum. Results Women with preeclampsia demonstrated increased CSF- and plasma concentrations of NfL and these concentrations correlated to each other. CSF concentrations of NSE and tau were decreased in preeclampsia and there were no differences in plasma concentrations of NSE and tau between groups. For S100B, serum concentrations in preeclampsia were increased but there was no difference in CSF concentrations of S100B between women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. Conclusion NfL emerges as a promising circulating cerebral biomarker in preeclampsia and increased CSF concentrations point to a neuroaxonal injury in preeclampsia, even in the absence of clinically evident neurological complications.

Objectives: Correct episiotomy use and technique may prevent obstetric anal sphincter injuries. We aimed to explore the attitudes, use, and technique regarding episiotomy among doctors in Sweden, and their willingness to contribute to a randomized controlled trial of lateral episiotomy or no episiotomy in vacuum extraction in nulliparous women.

Study design: A web-based survey was sent to members of the Swedish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (n = 2140). The survey included 31 questions addressing personal characteristics, use of episiotomy, a two-dimensional picture on which the respondents drew an episiotomy, and questions regarding attitudes towards episiotomy and participation in a randomized controlled trial. We calculated the proportion of supposedly protective episiotomies (fulfilling criteria of a lateral or mediolateral episiotomy and a length >= 30 mm). We compared the results between obstetricians, gynecologists, and residents using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests for differences between groups, and logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of drawing a protective episiotomy.

Results: We received 432 responses. Doctors without a vacuum delivery in the past year were excluded, leaving 384 respondents for further analyses. In all, 222 (57.8%) doctors reported use of episiotomy in<50% of vacuum extractions. We obtained 308 illustrated episiotomies with a median angle of 53 degrees, incision point distance from the midline of 21 mm, and length of 36 mm, corresponding to a lateral episiotomy. Few doctors combined these parameters correctly resulting in 167 (54.2%) incorrectly drawn episiotomies. Residents drew shorter episiotomies than obstetricians and gynecologists. Doctors ranked episiotomy the least important intervention to prevent obstetric anal sphincter injuries in vacuum extraction. Doctors contributing to an ongoing randomized controlled trial of lateral episiotomy or no episiotomy in vacuum extraction were more able to draw a protective episiotomy (OR 3.69, 95% confidence interval 1.94-7.02).

Conclusions: Doctors in Sweden reported restrictive use of episiotomy in vacuum extraction and depicted lateral type episiotomies, although the majority were incorrectly drawn. Preventive episiotomy was ranked of low importance. Our results imply a need for education, training, and guidelines to increase uptake of correct episiotomy technique, which could result in improved prevention of obstetric anal sphincter injuries.

Introduction and hypothesis Vaginal delivery may lead to levator ani muscle (LAM) injury or avulsion. Episiotomy may reduce obstetric anal sphincter injury in operative vaginal delivery, but may increase the risk of LAM injury. Our aim was to assess whether lateral episiotomy in vacuum extraction (VE) in primiparous women causes LAM injury. Methods A prospective cohort study of 58 primiparous women with episiotomy nested within an ongoing multicenter randomized controlled trial of lateral episiotomy versus no episiotomy in VE (EVA trial) was carried out in Sweden. LAM injury was evaluated using 3D endovaginal ultrasound 6-12 months after delivery and Levator Ani Deficiency (LAD) score. Episiotomy scar properties were measured. Characteristics were described and compared using Chi-squared tests. We stipulated that if a lateral episiotomy cuts the LAM, >= 50% would have a LAM injury. Among those, >= 50% would be side specific. We compared the observed prevalence with a test of one proportion. Results Twelve (20.7%, 95% CI 10.9-32.9) of 58 women had a LAD (p < 0.001, compared with the stipulated 50%). Six (50.0%, 95% CI 21.1% to 78.9%) of 12 women had a LAD on the episiotomy side, including those with bilateral LAD (p = 1.00). Two (16.7%, 95% CI 2.1% to 48.4%) of 12 women had a LAD exclusively on the episiotomy side (p = 0.02). Conclusions There was no excessive risk of cutting the LAM while performing a lateral episiotomy. LAD was not seen in women with episiotomies shorter than 18 mm.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is related to severe birth complications such as low birthweight, preterm birth and birth defects. During the last decade, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) has been used as a screening tool in Swedish maternal healthcare units to identify hazardous, pre-pregnancy alcohol use. However, evaluation of the screening with AUDIT, as well as adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes, has not been assessed at a national level.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a population-based cohort study of 530 458 births from 2013 to 2018 using demographic, reproductive and maternal health data from the Swedish Pregnancy Register. Self-reported alcohol consumption in the year before pregnancy, measured as AUDIT scores, was categorized into moderate (6-13 points) and high-risk (14-40 points) consumption, with low-risk (0-5 points) consumption as the reference group. Associations with pregnancy- and birth outcomes were explored with logistic regressions using generalized estimating equation models, adjusting for maternal and socioeconomic characteristics. Estimates are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: High-risk and moderate pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption was associated with preeclampsia, preterm birth and birth of an infant small for gestational age (SGA), but these associations were nonsignificant after adjustments. Prior moderate-risk (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17-1.42) and high-risk consumption (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.17-2.25) increased the likelihood of intrapartum and neonatal infections.

CONCLUSIONS: Apart from identifying hazardous alcohol consumption prior to pregnancy and the offer of counseling, screening with the AUDIT in early pregnancy indicates a high risk of inflammatory-/placenta-mediated pregnancy and birth outcomes. For most outcomes, AUDIT was not an independent contributor when adjusting for confounding factors. Hazardous alcohol use prior to pregnancy was independently linked to intrapartum and neonatal infections; conditions associated with morbidity and long-term sequalae. These associations may be explained by alcohol-induced changes in the maternal or fetal immune system in early pregnancy or persistent alcohol intake during pregnancy, or may depend on unidentified confounding factors.

Neuroticism is not only associated with affective disorders but also with certain somatic health problems. However, studies assessing whether neuroticism is associated with adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes are scarce. This observational study comprises first-time mothers (n = 1969) with singleton pregnancies from several cohorts based in Uppsala, Sweden. To assess neuroticism-related personality, the Swedish universities Scales of Personality was used. Swedish national health registers were used to extract outcomes and confounders. In logistic regression models, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were calculated for the outcomes by an increase of 63 units of neuroticism (equalling the interquartile range). Analyses were adjusted for maternal age, educational level, height, body mass index, year of delivery, smoking during pregnancy, involuntary childlessness, and psychiatric morbidity. Main outcomes were mode of delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, induction of delivery, prolonged delivery, severe lacerations, placental retention, postpartum haemorrhage, premature birth, infant born small or large for gestational age, and Apgar score. Neuroticism was not independently associated with adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes besides gestational diabetes. For future studies, models examining sub-components of neuroticism or pregnancy-specific anxiety are encouraged.

Introduction

Elevated neuroticism is associated with higher health care utilization in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the association between neuroticism and the use of publicly financed antenatal care in obstetric low‐risk women, taking predisposing and need factors for health care utilization into consideration.

Material and methods

Participants comprised 1052 obstetric low‐risk women (no chronic diseases or adverse pregnancy conditions) included in several obstetrics/gynecology studies in Uppsala, Sweden. Neuroticism was self‐rated on the Swedish universities Scales of Personality. Medical records of their first subsequent pregnancy were scanned for antenatal care use. Associations between antenatal care use and neuroticism were analyzed with logistic regression (binary outcomes) or negative binomial regression (count outcomes) comparing the 75th and 25th neuroticism percentiles. Depending on the Akaike information criterion the exposure was modeled as either linear or with restricted cubic splines. Analyses were adjusted for predisposing (sociodemographic and parity) and need factors (body mass index and psychiatric morbidity).

Results