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Ahrens KA, Janevic T, Hutcheon JA. Paid Family Leave Programs-Understanding the Consequences for Infant Health. JAMA Pediatr 2024:2817307. [PMID: 38587817 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa Janevic
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Ackerman-Banks CM, Palmsten K, Lipkind HS, Ahrens KA. Association between Gestational Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease within 24 Months Postpartum. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024:101366. [PMID: 38580094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2024.101366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. It is well established that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an overall lifetime increased risk of cardiometabolic disease, even among those without intercurrent type 2 diabetes. However, the association between GDM and short-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear. Establishing short-term risks of CVD for patients with GDM has significant potential to inform early screening and targeted intervention strategies to reduce premature cardiovascular morbidity among women. OBJECTIVE We aimed to estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease diagnoses in the first 24 months postpartum among patients with GDM compared with patients without GDM. STUDY DESIGN Our longitudinal population-based study included pregnant individuals with deliveries during 2007-2019 in the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data. We excluded records with gestational age <20 weeks and deliveries with non-Maine residence, multifetal gestation, those without insurance in the month of delivery or the 3 months before pregnancy, those with implausible time to next pregnancy (<60 days), pre-gestational diabetes mellitus, and any pre-pregnancy diagnosis of the cardiovascular conditions being examined postpartum. GDM and CVD (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular disease/stroke, and new chronic hypertension) were identified by ICD 9/10 diagnosis codes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR), adjusting for potential confounding factors. We assessed whether the association between GDM and chronic hypertension was mediated by intercurrent diabetes mellitus. RESULTS Of the 84,746 pregnancies examined, the cumulative risk of CVD within 24 months postpartum for those with GDM vs. without GDM was 0.13% vs. 0.20% for heart failure, 0.16% vs. 0.14% for ischemic heart disease, 0.60% vs. 0.44% for cerebrovascular disease/stroke, 0.22% vs. 0.16% for arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, 0.20% vs. 0.20% for cardiomyopathy, and 4.19% vs. 1.83% for new chronic hypertension. After adjusting for potential confounders, those with GDM have an increased risk of new chronic hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.56 (95% CI 1.32-1.86)) within the first 24 months postpartum as compared to those without GDM. There was no association between GDM and ischemic heart disease (aHR 0.75 (95% CI 0.34-1.65)), cerebrovascular disease/stroke (aHR 1.13 (95% CI 0.78-1.66)), arrhythmia/cardiac arrest (aHR 1.16 (95% CI 0.59-2.29)), or cardiomyopathy (aHR 0.75 (95% CI 0.40-1.41)) within the first 24 months postpartum. Those with GDM appeared to have a decreased risk of heart failure within 24 months postpartum, aHR 0.45 (95% CI (0.21-0.98)). Our mediation analyses estimated that 28% of the effect of GDM on new chronic hypertension was mediated through intercurrent diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION Patients with GDM have a significantly increased risk of new chronic hypertension as early as 24 months postpartum. The majority of this effect was not due to the development of diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that all women with GDM need careful monitoring and screening for new chronic hypertension in the first 2 years postpartum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, Health Partners Institute, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Heather S Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
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Ahrens KA, Palmsten K, Grantham CO, Lipkind HS, Ackerman‐Banks CM. Acute health care utilization in the first 24 months postpartum by rurality and pregnancy complications: A prospective cohort study. Health Serv Res 2024; 59:e14247. [PMID: 37827521 PMCID: PMC10771903 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the rate of acute health care use (hospitalizations and emergency department [ED] visits) among postpartum persons by rurality of residence and pregnancy complications. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING 2006-2021 data from the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data. STUDY DESIGN We estimated the rates of hospitalizations and ED visits during the first 24 months postpartum, separately, overall and by four-level rurality of residence (urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated rural) and by pregnancy complications (prenatal depression, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [HDP], and gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM]). We used Poisson regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Data were weighted to account for censoring before 24 months postpartum. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS Deliveries during 2007-2019 (n = 122,412). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Approximately 4% of persons had at least one hospitalization within 24 months postpartum (mean monthly rate per 100 deliveries = 0.35). Adjusted rates were not different by rurality. Persons with prenatal depression (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-2.5), HDP (aRR = 1.4; 1.0-2.0), and GDM (aRR = 1.4; 0.9-2.0) had higher hospitalization rates than those without these conditions. Approximately 44% of persons had at least one ED visit within 24 months postpartum (mean monthly rate per 100 deliveries = 5.4). Adjusted ED rates were higher for persons living in small rural areas as compared with urban areas (aRR = 1.3; 1.2-1.4). Persons with prenatal depression (aRR = 1.8; 1.7-1.9), HDP (aRR = 1.1; 1.0-1.2), and GDM (aRR = 1.3; 1.2-1.4) had higher ED rates than those without these conditions; ED rates were highest among those living in small rural areas. CONCLUSION New policies and care practices may be needed to prevent acute health care encounters in the first 24 months after delivery for persons with common pregnancy conditions. Efforts to identify why postpartum people living in small rural areas have higher rates of ED visits are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research CenterHealthPartners InstituteBloomingtonMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Heather S. Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyWeill Cornell Medical CollegeNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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Dudley J, Gabrielson SMB, O'Connor AB, Ahrens KA. Trends in maternal opioid use disorder and neonatal abstinence syndrome in Maine, 2016-2022. J Perinatol 2024:10.1038/s41372-024-01882-x. [PMID: 38267636 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01882-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate trends in maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in Maine using the most recent data available. STUDY DESIGN We used hospital discharge data to estimate the annual prevalence of maternal OUD and NAS between 2016 and 2022. In addition, we used birth certificate-linked Medicaid data to estimate related trends among Medicaid enrollees. RESULT From 2016 to 2022, the prevalence of maternal OUD decreased from 35.3 to 18.8 per 1000 deliveries and the prevalence of NAS decreased from 33.2 to 14.0 per 1000 newborns (linear trend p values <0.01). Decreasing trends were also found among Medicaid enrollees. CONCLUSION In Maine between 2016 and 2022, there was a decrease in maternal OUD and NAS diagnoses recorded in administrative datasets. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to changes in how OUD and NAS diagnoses are recorded and COVID-related changes in healthcare utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Dudley
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA.
| | - Sarah M B Gabrielson
- Department of Pediatrics, The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Alane B O'Connor
- Perinatal Addiction Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA.
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Ahrens KA. Using mothers as the denominator. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2024; 38:66-68. [PMID: 38050464 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
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Palmsten K, Vazquez-Benitez G, JaKa MM, Bandoli G, Ahrens KA, Kharbanda EO. The most common medications dispensed to lactating persons: An electronic health record-based approach. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2023; 32:1113-1120. [PMID: 37212450 PMCID: PMC10524926 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Using a novel, electronic health record (EHR)-based approach, to estimate the prevalence of prescription medication use at 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum among lactating individuals. METHODS We utilized automated EHR data from a US health system that records infant feeding information at well-child visits. We linked mothers who received prenatal care to their infants born May 2018-June 2019, and we required infants to have ≥1 well-child visit between 31 and 90 days of life (i.e., 2-month well-child visit with a ±1 month window). Mothers were classified as lactating at the 2-month well-child visit if their infant received breast milk at the 2-month well-child visit. For subsequent well-child visits at 4 and 6 months, mothers were considered lactating if their infant was still receiving breast milk. RESULTS We identified 6013 mothers meeting inclusion criteria, and 4158 (69.2%) were classified as lactating at the 2-month well-child visit. Among those classified as lactating, the most common medication classes dispensed around the 2-month well-child visit were oral progestin contraceptives (19.1%), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (8.8%), first generation cephalosporins (4.3%), thyroid hormones (3.5%), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (3.4%), penicillinase-resistant penicillins (3.1%), topical corticosteroids (2.9%), and oral imidazole-related antifungals (2.0%). The most common medication classes were similar around the 4 and 6-month well-child visits although prevalence estimates were often lower. CONCLUSIONS Progestin-only contraceptives, antidepressants, and antibiotics were the most dispensed medications among lactating mothers. With routine collection of breastfeeding information, mother-infant linked EHR data may overcome limitations in previous studies of medication utilization during lactation. These data should be considered for studies of medication safety during lactation given the need for human safety data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Meghan M JaKa
- Center for Evaluation and Survey Research, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Gretchen Bandoli
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Elyse O Kharbanda
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Ackerman-Banks CM, Lipkind HS, Palmsten K, Ahrens KA. Association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular diseases within 24 months after delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:65.e1-65.e15. [PMID: 37031763 PMCID: PMC10330109 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the well-known association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular diseases, there are limited data on which specific cardiovascular diagnoses have the greatest risk profiles during the first 24 months after delivery. Most existing data on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and short-term cardiovascular disease risks are limited to the immediate postpartum period; however, it is crucial to determine cardiovascular disease risk up to 24 months after delivery to inform cardiovascular disease screening protocols during the extended postpartum period. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to delineate the risk of cardiovascular diagnoses in the first 24 months after delivery among patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared with patients without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN This longitudinal population-based study included pregnant individuals with deliveries during 2007 to 2019 in the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data. This study excluded patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease, with multifetal pregnancies, or without continuous insurance during pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular diseases (categorized by specific conditions: heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia or cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, and new chronic hypertension) were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS Of the 119,422 pregnancies examined, the cumulative risk of cardiovascular disease within 24 months after delivery for those with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy vs those without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 0.6% vs 0.2% for heart failure, 0.3% vs 0.1% for ischemic heart disease, 0.2% vs 0.2% for arrhythmia or cardiac arrest, 0.6% vs 0.2% for cardiomyopathy, 0.8% vs 0.4% for cerebrovascular disease or stroke, 1.6% vs 0.7% for severe cardiac disease (composite outcome of heart failure, cerebrovascular disease or stroke, or cardiomyopathy), and 9.7% vs 1.5% for new chronic hypertension. After adjustment for potential confounders, those with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had an increased risk of heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, and severe cardiac disease within the first 24 months after delivery (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.81 [95% confidence interval, 1.90-4.15], 1.43 [95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.91], 2.90 [95% confidence interval, 1.96-4.27], and 1.90 [95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.30], respectively) compared with those without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In addition, those with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had an increased risk for new chronic hypertension diagnosed after 42 days after delivery (adjusted hazard ratio, 7.29; 95% confidence interval, 6.57-8.09). There was no association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and ischemic heart disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.54) or cardiac arrest or arrhythmia (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.57). In addition, among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, the highest proportion of first cardiovascular disease diagnoses occurred during the first month after delivery for cardiomyopathy (44%), heart failure (39%), cerebrovascular disease or stroke (39%), and severe cardiac disease (41%). CONCLUSION Patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had an increased risk of developing new chronic hypertension, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, and cardiomyopathy within 24 months after delivery. There was no association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and ischemic heart disease or cardiac arrest or arrhythmia. Patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy need targeted early postpartum interventions and increased monitoring in the first 24 months after delivery. This may preserve long-term health and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather S Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, Health Partners Institute, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
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Ahrens KA, Palmsten K, Lipkind HS, Pfeiffer M, Gelsinger C, Ackerman-Banks C. Mental Health Within 24 Months After Delivery Among Women with Common Pregnancy Conditions. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2023; 32:787-800. [PMID: 37192449 PMCID: PMC10354313 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2022.0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the risk of a new mental health diagnosis within the first 24 months postpartum among women with common pregnancy conditions, overall and by rurality. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal population-based study used the Maine Health Data Organization's All-Payer Claims Data to estimate the cumulative risk of a new mental health disorder diagnosis in the first 24 months postpartum among women with deliveries during 2007-2019 and who did not have a mental health diagnosis before pregnancy. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios for common pregnancy conditions (prenatal depression, gestational diabetes [GDM], and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy [HDP]) on the new diagnosis of five mental health conditions, separately. Models were adjusted for maternal demographics and pregnancy characteristics. Results: Of the 123,125 deliveries, the cumulative risk of being diagnosed in the first 24 months postpartum with depression was 28%, anxiety 25%, bipolar disorder 3%, post-traumatic stress disorder 6%, and schizophrenia/psychotic disorder 1%. Women with prenatal depression were at higher risk of having a postpartum mental health diagnosis compared with women without prenatal depression (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs] ranged from 2.5 [for anxiety] to 4.1 [for postpartum depression]). Risk of having postpartum depression was modestly higher among women with HDP, as was the risk of postpartum bipolar disorder among those with GDM. Findings were generally similar between women living in rural versus urban areas. Conclusions: Effective interventions to prevent, screen, and treat mental health conditions among women with pregnancy complications for an extended time postpartum are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Ahrens
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Heather S. Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Mariah Pfeiffer
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Catherine Gelsinger
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Christina Ackerman-Banks
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Austin AE, Tang L, Kim JY, Allen L, Barnes AJ, Chang CCH, Clark S, Cole ES, Durrance CP, Donohue JM, Gordon AJ, Huskamp HA, McDuffie MJ, Mehrotra A, Mohamoud S, Talbert J, Ahrens KA, Applegate M, Hammerslag LR, Lanier P, Tossone K, Zivin K, Burns ME. Trends in Use of Medication to Treat Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 10 State Medicaid Programs. JAMA Health Forum 2023; 4:e231422. [PMID: 37327009 PMCID: PMC10276306 DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.1422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Federal and state agencies granted temporary regulatory waivers to prevent disruptions in access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic, including expanding access to telehealth for MOUD. Little is known about changes in MOUD receipt and initiation among Medicaid enrollees during the pandemic. Objectives To examine changes in receipt of any MOUD, initiation of MOUD (in-person vs telehealth), and the proportion of days covered (PDC) with MOUD after initiation from before to after declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Design, Setting, and Participants This serial cross-sectional study included Medicaid enrollees aged 18 to 64 years in 10 states from May 2019 through December 2020. Analyses were conducted from January through March 2022. Exposures Ten months before the COVID-19 PHE (May 2019 through February 2020) vs 10 months after the PHE was declared (March through December 2020). Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes included receipt of any MOUD and outpatient initiation of MOUD via prescriptions and office- or facility-based administrations. Secondary outcomes included in-person vs telehealth MOUD initiation and PDC with MOUD after initiation. Results Among a total of 8 167 497 Medicaid enrollees before the PHE and 8 181 144 after the PHE, 58.6% were female in both periods and most enrollees were aged 21 to 34 years (40.1% before the PHE; 40.7% after the PHE). Monthly rates of MOUD initiation, representing 7% to 10% of all MOUD receipt, decreased immediately after the PHE primarily due to reductions in in-person initiations (from 231.3 per 100 000 enrollees in March 2020 to 171.8 per 100 000 enrollees in April 2020) that were partially offset by increases in telehealth initiations (from 5.6 per 100 000 enrollees in March 2020 to 21.1 per 100 000 enrollees in April 2020). Mean monthly PDC with MOUD in the 90 days after initiation decreased after the PHE (from 64.5% in March 2020 to 59.5% in September 2020). In adjusted analyses, there was no immediate change (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01) or change in the trend (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01) in the likelihood of receipt of any MOUD after the PHE compared with before the PHE. There was an immediate decrease in the likelihood of outpatient MOUD initiation (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.85-0.96) and no change in the trend in the likelihood of outpatient MOUD initiation (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-1.00) after the PHE compared with before the PHE. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of Medicaid enrollees, the likelihood of receipt of any MOUD was stable from May 2019 through December 2020 despite concerns about potential COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions in care. However, immediately after the PHE was declared, there was a reduction in overall MOUD initiations, including a reduction in in-person MOUD initiations that was only partially offset by increased use of telehealth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E. Austin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Injury Prevention Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Lu Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joo Yeon Kim
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lindsay Allen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Andrew J. Barnes
- Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
| | - Chung-Chou H. Chang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sarah Clark
- Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Evan S. Cole
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Julie M. Donohue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Adam J. Gordon
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Haiden A. Huskamp
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Joan McDuffie
- Center for Community Research and Service, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware, Newark
| | - Ateev Mehrotra
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shamis Mohamoud
- The Hilltop Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore
| | - Jeffery Talbert
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland
| | | | | | - Paul Lanier
- School of Social Work, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Krystel Tossone
- The Ohio Colleges of Medicine, Government Resource Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Kara Zivin
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Marguerite E. Burns
- Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Ackerman‐Banks CM, Lipkind HS, Palmsten K, Pfeiffer M, Gelsinger C, Ahrens KA. Association of Prenatal Depression With New Cardiovascular Disease Within 24 Months Postpartum. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e028133. [PMID: 37073814 PMCID: PMC10227220 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.028133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Background Although depression is well established as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the nonpregnant population, this association has largely not been investigated in pregnant populations. We aimed to estimate the cumulative risk of new CVD in the first 24 months postpartum among pregnant individuals diagnosed with prenatal depression compared with patients without depression diagnosed during pregnancy. Methods and Results Our longitudinal population-based study included pregnant individuals with deliveries during 2007 to 2019 in the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data. We excluded those with prepregnancy CVD, multifetal gestations, or no continuous health insurance during pregnancy. Prenatal depression and CVD (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic hypertension) were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9)/International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for potential confounding factors. Analyses were stratified by hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. A total of 119 422 pregnancies were examined. Pregnant individuals with prenatal depression had an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, and new hypertension (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.83 [95% CI, 1.20-2.80], aHR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.31], aHR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.15-2.24], and aHR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.17-1.50], respectively). When the analyses were stratified by co-occurring hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, several of these associations persisted. Conclusions The cumulative risk of a new CVD diagnosis postpartum was elevated among individuals with prenatal depression and persists even in the absence of co-occurring hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Further research to determine the causal pathway can inform postpartum CVD preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather S. Lipkind
- Yale School of MedicineNew HavenCT
- Cornell Medical CollegeNew York CityNY
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, Health Partners InstituteMinneapolisMN
| | - Mariah Pfeiffer
- Muskie School of Public ServiceUniversity of Southern MainePortlandME
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Gelsinger C, Palmsten K, Lipkind HS, Pfeiffer M, Ackerman-Banks C, Hutcheon JA, Ahrens KA. Provision of Postpartum Contraception Before and After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Maine. Public Health Rep 2023:333549231170198. [PMID: 37129355 DOI: 10.1177/00333549231170198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preliminary findings from selected health systems revealed interruptions in reproductive health care services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated changes in postpartum contraceptive provision associated with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. METHODS We used the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Database for deliveries from October 2015 through March 2021 (n = 45 916). Using an interrupted time-series analysis design, we estimated changes in provision rates of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), permanent contraception, and moderately effective contraception within 3 and 60 days of delivery after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed 6- and 12-month analyses (April 2020-September 2020, April 2020-March 2021) as compared with the reference period (October 2015-March 2020). We used Poisson regression models to calculate level-change rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS The 6-month analysis found that provision of LARC (RR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.76-2.02) and moderately effective contraception (RR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.33-1.72) within 3 days of delivery increased at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while provision of LARC (RR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.97) and moderately effective contraception (RR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.11) within 60 days of delivery was stable. Rates of provision of permanent contraception within 3 days (RR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63-0.78) and 60 days (RR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.80) decreased. RRs from the 12-month analysis were generally attenuated. CONCLUSION Disruptions in postpartum provision of permanent contraception occurred at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine. Public health policies should include guidance for contraceptive provision during public health emergencies and consider designating permanent contraception as a nonelective procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Gelsinger
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Heather S Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariah Pfeiffer
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | | | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
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12
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Austin AE, Durrance CP, Ahrens KA, Chen Q, Hammerslag L, McDuffie MJ, Talbert J, Lanier P, Donohue JM, Jarlenski M. Duration of medication for opioid use disorder during pregnancy and postpartum by race/ethnicity: Results from 6 state Medicaid programs. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 247:109868. [PMID: 37058829 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is evidence-based treatment during pregnancy and postpartum. Prior studies show racial/ethnic differences in receipt of MOUD during pregnancy. Fewer studies have examined racial/ethnic differences in MOUD receipt and duration during the first year postpartum and in the type of MOUD received during pregnancy and postpartum. METHODS We used Medicaid administrative data from 6 states to compare the percentage of women with any MOUD and the average proportion of days covered (PDC) with MOUD, overall and by type of MOUD, during pregnancy and four postpartum periods (1-90 days, 91-180 days, 181-270 days, and 271-360 days postpartum) among White non-Hispanic, Black non-Hispanic, and Hispanic women diagnosed with OUD. RESULTS White non-Hispanic women were more likely to receive any MOUD during pregnancy and all postpartum periods compared to Hispanic and Black non-Hispanic women. For all MOUD types combined and for buprenorphine, White non-Hispanic women had the highest average PDC during pregnancy and each postpartum period, followed by Hispanic women and Black non-Hispanic women (e.g., for all MOUD types, 0.49 vs. 0.41 vs. 0.23 PDC, respectively, during days 1-90 postpartum). For methadone, White non-Hispanic and Hispanic women had similar average PDC during pregnancy and postpartum, and Black non-Hispanic women had substantially lower PDC. CONCLUSIONS There are stark racial/ethnic differences in MOUD during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Reducing these inequities is critical to improving health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women with OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Austin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health and Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States; Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
| | | | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, United States
| | - Qingwen Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Lindsey Hammerslag
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, United States
| | - Mary Joan McDuffie
- Center for Community Research & Service, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware, United States
| | - Jeffery Talbert
- Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, United States
| | - Paul Lanier
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Julie M Donohue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Marian Jarlenski
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, United States
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Petersen JM, Hutcheon JA, Bodnar LM, Parker SE, Ahrens KA, Werler MM. Weight gain patterns among pregnancies with obesity and small- and large-for-gestational-age births. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2023; 31:1133-1145. [PMID: 36942419 PMCID: PMC10034596 DOI: 10.1002/oby.23693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This case-cohort study estimated associations between gestational weight gain (GWG) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births stratified by obesity class (I: 30-34.9 kg/m2 ; II: 35-39.9 kg/m2 ; III: ≥40 kg/m2 ) (Magee-Womens Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1998-2011). METHODS First-trimester GWG was categorized as being below (<0.2 kg), within (0.2-2.0 kg), or above (>2.0 kg) the Institute of Medicine recommendations. For second- and third-trimester GWG, four linear trajectories were derived: approximating maintenance (slope -0.05 ± 0.03 kg/wk), approximating the recommendations (0.27 ± 0.01 kg/wk; reference), higher than the recommendations (0.54 ± 0.01 kg/wk), and highest among those above the recommendations (0.91 ± 0.02 kg/wk). RESULTS For classes I, II, and III, respectively, there were 1290, 1247, and 1198 pregnancies in the subcohort; 262, 171, and 123 SGA cases; and 353, 286, and 257 LGA cases. First-trimester GWG was not associated with SGA/LGA births. Second- and third-trimester weight maintenance was associated with potentially lower LGA risk (risk ratio [RR]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-1.1) but not higher SGA risk (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.64-1.5) for class III. In addition, some sensitivity analyses supported no increased SGA risk with second- and third-trimester weight maintenance for classes I and II. CONCLUSIONS Second- and third-trimester weight maintenance may be associated with more optimal birth weight for gestational age. However, how this could be achieved (e.g., through diet and exercise interventions) is unclear, given the observational design of our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M. Petersen
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Talbot Building, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 02118
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Building, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 15261
| | - Jennifer A. Hutcheon
- University of British Columbia, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Shaughnessy Building C408A, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6N 3N1, Canada
| | - Lisa M. Bodnar
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Building, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 15261
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Samantha E. Parker
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Talbot Building, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 02118
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service, Wishcamper Center. 34 Bedford Street, Portland, Maine, USA 04102
| | - Martha M. Werler
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Talbot Building, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 02118
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Pfeiffer M, Gelsinger C, Palmsten K, Lipkind HS, Ackerman-Banks C, Ahrens KA. Rural-urban residence and sequelae of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the first year postpartum, 2007 - 2019. Pregnancy Hypertens 2023; 32:10-17. [PMID: 36822069 DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the association between rural residence and sequelae of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in the first year postpartum. STUDY DESIGN We used the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data to identify women with HDP who delivered during 2007-2019 and did not have chronic hypertension or pre-pregnancy cardiac conditions (n = 8882). We used Cox proportional hazards modeling to estimate rural-urban hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for HDP subtype, age, insurance, nulliparity, and co-morbidities. Results were stratified by HDP subtype and timing of acute care visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Risk of at least one emergency room or inpatient visit related to hypertension or cardiovascular conditions in the first year postpartum and receipt of outpatient antihypertensive medications from 4 days to 1 year postpartum, separately. RESULTS Overall, risk of at least one acute care visit in the first year postpartum was not different between rural vs urban women (4.2% vs 4.2%; adjusted HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.79,1.21), and outpatient receipt of antihypertensive medication was not different (12.9% vs 12.8%; adjusted HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.87, 1.12). However, stratified analyses suggested some differences (e.g. preeclampsia with severe features: acute care visit adjusted HR 1.54; 95% CI 0.95, 2.49). CONCLUSIONS Rural and urban women do not differ in the risks of these common HDP sequelae, though rural women may have increased risk by HDP subtype or timing of acute care visit. Future research should investigate postpartum interventions for reducing HDP sequelae in rural and urban women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah Pfeiffer
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Catherine Gelsinger
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Kristin Palmsten
- Pregnancy and Child Health Research Center, HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Heather S Lipkind
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, United States.
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Ahrens KA, Rossen LM, Burgess AR, Palmsten K, Ziller EC. Maternal hepatitis C prevalence and trends by county, US: 2016-2020. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2023; 37:134-142. [PMID: 36372984 PMCID: PMC9918643 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trends in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among women delivering live births may differ in rural vs. urban areas of the United States, but estimation of trends based on observed counts may lead to unstable estimates in rural counties due to small numbers. OBJECTIVES The objective of the study was to use small area estimation methods to provide updated county-level prevalence estimates and, for the first time, trends in maternal HCV infection among live births by county-level rurality. METHODS Cross-sectional natality data from 2016 to 2020 were used to estimate maternal hepatitis C prevalence using hierarchical Bayesian models with spatiotemporal random effects to produce annual county-level estimates of maternal HCV infection and trends over time. Models included a 6-level rural-urban county classification, year, maternal characteristics and county-specific covariates. Data were analysed in 2022. RESULTS There were 90,764/18,905,314 live births (4.8 per 1000) with HCV infection reported on the birth certificate. Hepatitis C prevalence was higher among rural counties as compared to urban counties. Rural counties had the largest annual increases in maternal hepatitis C prevalence (per 1000 births) from 2016 to 2020 (micropolitan: 0.39; noncore: 0.40), with smaller increases among less densely populated urban counties (medium metro: 0.28; small metro: 0.28) and urban counties (large central metro:0.11; large fringe metro: 0.14). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of maternal HCV infection was the highest in rural counties, and rural counties saw the greatest average prevalence increase during 2016-2020. County-level data can help in monitoring rural-urban trends in maternal HCV infection to reduce geographic disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Ahrens
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Lauren M. Rossen
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Amanda R. Burgess
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | | | - Erika C. Ziller
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
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16
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Petersen JM, Parker SE, Dukes KA, Hutcheon JA, Ahrens KA, Werler MM. Machine learning-based placental clusters and their associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022; 37:350-361. [PMID: 36441121 PMCID: PMC10175084 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental abnormalities have been described in clinical convenience samples, with predominately adverse outcomes. Few studies have described placental patterns in unselected samples. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate associations between co-occurring placental features and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a prospective cohort of singletons. METHODS Data were from the Safe Passage study (U.S. and South Africa, 2007-2015). Before 24 weeks' gestation, participants were randomly invited to donate placental tissue at delivery for blinded, standardised pathological examination. We used hierarchical clustering to construct statistically derived groups using 60 placental features. We estimated associations between the placental clusters and select adverse pregnancy outcomes, expressed as unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and robust 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS We selected a 7-cluster model. After collapsing 2 clusters to form the reference group, we labelled the resulting 6 analytic clusters according to the overarching category of their most predominant feature(s): severe maternal vascular malperfusion (n = 117), fetal vascular malperfusion (n = 222), other vascular malperfusion (n = 516), inflammation 1 (n = 269), inflammation 2 (n = 175), and normal (n = 706). Risks for all outcomes were elevated in the severe maternal vascular malperfusion cluster. For instance, in unadjusted analyses, this cluster had 12 times the risk of stillbirth (RR 12.07, 95% CI 4.20, 34.68) and an almost doubling in the risk of preterm delivery (RR 1.93, 95% CI 1.27, 2.93) compared with the normal cluster. Small infant size was more common among the abnormal clusters, with the highest unadjusted RRs observed in the fetal vascular malperfusion cluster (small for gestational age birth RR 2.99, 95% CI 2.24, 3.98, head circumference <10th percentile RR 2.86, 95% CI 1.60, 5.12). Upon adjustment for known risk factors, most RRs attenuated but remained >1. CONCLUSION Our study adds to the growing body of epidemiologic research, finding adverse pregnancy outcomes may occur through etiologic mechanisms involving co-occurring placental abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvani, USA
| | - Samantha E Parker
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kimberly A Dukes
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts, Boston, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, BC Children's and Women's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Martha M Werler
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Zivin K, Allen L, Barnes AJ, Junker S, Kim JY, Tang L, Kennedy S, Ahrens KA, Burns M, Clark S, Cole E, Crane D, Idala D, Lanier P, Mohamoud S, Jarlenski M, McDuffie MJ, Talbert J, Gordon AJ, Donohue JM. Design, Implementation, and Evolution of the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN). Med Care 2022; 60:680-690. [PMID: 35838242 PMCID: PMC9378530 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the US, Medicaid covers over 80 million Americans. Comparing access, quality, and costs across Medicaid programs can provide policymakers with much-needed information. As each Medicaid agency collects its member data, multiple barriers prevent sharing Medicaid data between states. To address this gap, the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN) developed a research network of states to conduct rapid multi-state analyses without sharing individual-level data across states. OBJECTIVE To describe goals, design, implementation, and evolution of MODRN to inform other research networks. METHODS MODRN implemented a distributed research network using a common data model, with each state analyzing its own data; developed standardized measure specifications and statistical software code to conduct analyses; and disseminated findings to state and federal Medicaid policymakers. Based on feedback on Medicaid agency priorities, MODRN first sought to inform Medicaid policy to improve opioid use disorder treatment, particularly medication treatment. RESULTS Since its 2017 inception, MODRN created 21 opioid use disorder quality measures in 13 states. MODRN modified its common data model over time to include additional elements. Initial barriers included harmonizing utilization data from Medicaid billing codes across states and adapting statistical methods to combine state-level results. The network demonstrated its utility and addressed barriers to conducting multi-state analyses of Medicaid administrative data. CONCLUSIONS MODRN created a new, scalable, successful model for conducting policy research while complying with federal and state regulations to protect beneficiary health information. Platforms like MODRN may prove useful for emerging health challenges to facilitate evidence-based policymaking in Medicaid programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara Zivin
- Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | | | | | | | - Lu Tang
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | | | | | - Evan Cole
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - David Idala
- The Hilltop Institute, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
| | - Paul Lanier
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pittsboro NC
| | - Shamis Mohamoud
- The Hilltop Institute, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | | | - Adam J Gordon
- Department of Veterans Affairs, University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
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18
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Carwile JL, Seshasayee SM, Ahrens KA, Hauser R, Driban JB, Rosen CJ, Gordon CM, Fleisch AF. Serum PFAS and Urinary Phthalate Biomarker Concentrations and Bone Mineral Density in 12-19 Year Olds: 2011-2016 NHANES. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:e3343-e3352. [PMID: 35511700 PMCID: PMC9282360 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates are 2 families of environmental endocrine disruptors that may be associated with areal lower bone mineral density (aBMD). OBJECTIVE To examine associations between serum PFAS and urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations and their mixtures with aBMD Z-scores in adolescents. DESIGN, PATIENTS, AND MEASURES We examined serial cross-sectional data from male (n = 453) and female (n = 395) 12- to 19-year-old participants in the 2011 through 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with measures of serum PFAS, urinary phthalate metabolites, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry aBMD Z-scores (total body less head). In sex-specific models, we used linear regression to examine associations of individual PFAS and phthalate biomarkers with aBMD Z-scores, and Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine the association of the overall PFAS/phthalate biomarker mixture with aBMD Z-scores. We replicated the analysis, stratifying by race/ethnicity. RESULTS Participants were (mean ± SD) 15 ± 2.1 years of age. In males, each doubling of serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate, urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate, and the overall PFAS/phthalate mixture was associated with a lower aBMD Z-score (eg, for PFOA: -0.24; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.06). Serum PFOA and urinary MiBP were associated with higher aBMD Z-scores in females (eg, for PFOA: 0.09; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.25). Findings did not differ by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS Certain PFAS and phthalates may be associated with reduced bone mineral density in adolescent males. Bone mineral density tracks across the life course, so if replicated in longitudinal cohorts, this finding may have implications for lifelong skeletal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carwile
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
| | - Shravanthi M Seshasayee
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04103, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Driban
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Clifford J Rosen
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Catherine M Gordon
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030,USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Correspondence: Abby Fleisch, MD, MPH, Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 509 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101, USA.
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Rossen LM, Ahrens KA, Womack LS, Uddin SFG, Branum AM. Rural-Urban Differences in Maternal Mortality Trends in the United States, 1999-2017: Accounting for the Impact of the Pregnancy Status Checkbox. Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:1030-1039. [PMID: 35020799 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been difficult to measure rural-urban differences in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) in the United States in recent years because of the incremental adoption of a pregnancy status checkbox on the standard US death certificate. Using 1999-2017 mortality and birth data, we examined the impact of the pregnancy checkbox on MMRs according to urbanicity of residence (large urban area, medium/small urban area, or rural area), using log-binomial regression models to predict trends that would have been observed if all states had adopted the checkbox as of 1999. Implementation of the checkbox resulted in an average estimated increase of 7.5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.3, 8.8) in large urban areas (a 76% increase), 11.6 (95% CI: 9.6, 13.6) in medium/small urban areas (a 113% increase), and 16.6 (95% CI: 12.9, 20.3) in rural areas (a 107% increase), compared with MMRs prior to the checkbox. Assuming that all states had the checkbox as of 1999, demographic-factor-adjusted predicted MMRs increased in rural areas, declined in large urban areas, and did not change in medium/small urban areas. However, trends and urban-rural differences were substantially attenuated when analyses were limited to direct/specific causes of maternal death, which are probably subject to less misclassification. Accurate ascertainment of maternal deaths, particularly in rural areas, is important for reducing disparities in maternal mortality.
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Way EA, Carwile JL, Ziller EC, Ahrens KA. Out-of-hospital births and infant mortality in the United States: Effect measure modification by rural maternal residence. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022; 36:399-411. [PMID: 35108404 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital births have been increasing in the United States, and home births are almost twice as common in rural vs. urban counties. Planned home births and births in rural areas have each been associated with an increased risk of infant mortality. OBJECTIVES To estimate the effect of birth setting on infant mortality in the United States and how this is modified by rural-urban county of maternal residence. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study of infants born in the United States during 2010-2017 using the National Center for Health Statistics' period-linked birth-infant death files. Unadjusted and adjusted Poisson regression models were used to calculate infant mortality rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals for out-of-hospital births vs. hospital births stratified by maternal residence. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was calculated to assess effect measure modification on the additive scale. RESULTS The study included 25,210,263 live births. Of rural births, 97.8% was in hospitals, 0.5% was in birth centres, and 1.5% was planned home births; of urban births, 98.6% was in hospitals, 0.5% was in birth centres, and 0.7% was planned home births. After adjusting for maternal demographics and markers of high-risk pregnancy and stratifying by maternal residence, infant mortality rates were generally higher for out-of-hospital as compared to hospital births (e.g. rural planned home births aRR 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42, 1.85, and rural birth centre aRR 1.33, 95% CI 1.05, 1.68). There were positive additive effects of rural residence on infant mortality for planned home births and birth centre births. CONCLUSIONS Within both rural and urban areas, out-of-hospital births generally had higher rates of infant mortality than hospital births after accounting for maternal demographics and markers of high-risk pregnancy. The risks associated with planned home births and birth centre births were more pronounced for women in rural counties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elora A Way
- The Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Jenny L Carwile
- The Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Erika C Ziller
- The Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- The Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
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21
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Jarlenski M, Chen Q, Ahrens KA, Allen L, Austin AE, Chappell C, Donohue JM, Hammerslag L, Lanier P, Joan McDuffie M, Talbert J, Tang L, Krans EE. Postpartum Follow-up Care for Pregnant Persons With Opioid Use Disorder and Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Obstet Gynecol 2022; 139:916-918. [PMID: 35576352 PMCID: PMC9170182 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000004760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Among Medicaid-enrolled pregnant persons with opioid use disorder, one third are diagnosed with hepatitis C virus, but only 6% receive postpartum follow-up or medication treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Jarlenski
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Qingwen Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Lindsay Allen
- Department of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV
| | - Anna E. Austin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Catherine Chappell
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Julie M. Donohue
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Lindsay Hammerslag
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
| | - Paul Lanier
- School of Social Work, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Mary Joan McDuffie
- Center for Community Research and Service, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Jeffrey Talbert
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
| | - Lu Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Elizabeth E Krans
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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22
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Petersen JM, Barrett M, Ahrens KA, Murray EJ, Bryant AS, Hogue CJ, Mumford SL, Gadupudi S, Fox MP, Trinquart L. The confounder matrix: A tool to assess confounding bias in systematic reviews of observational studies of etiology. Res Synth Methods 2022; 13:242-254. [PMID: 34954912 PMCID: PMC8965616 DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential for drawing conclusions regarding etiologic associations between exposures or interventions and health outcomes. Observational studies comprise a substantive source of the evidence base. One major threat to their validity is residual confounding, which may occur when component studies adjust for different sets of confounders, fail to control for important confounders, or have classification errors resulting in only partial control of measured confounders. We present the confounder matrix-an approach for defining and summarizing adequate confounding control in systematic reviews of observational studies and incorporating this assessment into meta-analyses. First, an expert group reaches consensus regarding the core confounders that should be controlled and the best available method for their measurement. Second, a matrix graphically depicts how each component study accounted for each confounder. Third, the assessment of control adequacy informs quantitative synthesis. We illustrate the approach with studies of the association between short interpregnancy intervals and preterm birth. Our findings suggest that uncontrolled confounding, notably by reproductive history and sociodemographics, resulted in exaggerated estimates. Moreover, no studies adequately controlled for all core confounders, so we suspect residual confounding is present, even among studies with better control. The confounder matrix serves as an extension of previously published methodological guidance for observational research synthesis, enabling transparent reporting of confounding control and directly informing meta-analysis so that conclusions are drawn from the best available evidence. Widespread application could raise awareness about gaps across a body of work and allow for more valid inference with respect to confounder control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M. Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Malcolm Barrett
- Department of Preventative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Eleanor J. Murray
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allison S. Bryant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vincent Obstetric Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carol J. Hogue
- Departments of Epidemiology and Behavioral Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sunni L. Mumford
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Salini Gadupudi
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew P. Fox
- Departments of Epidemiology and Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ludovic Trinquart
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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23
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Carwile JL, Seshasayee SM, Ahrens KA, Hauser R, Chavarro JE, Fleisch AF. Dietary correlates of urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in 6-19 Year old children and adolescents. Environ Res 2022; 204:112083. [PMID: 34582800 PMCID: PMC8678286 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are vulnerable to adverse health effects associated with phthalates, and food is one source of exposure. A comprehensive analysis investigating urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in relation to food type and source has yet to be undertaken. OBJECTIVES We use reduced rank regression, a dimension reduction method, to identify dietary patterns associated with urinary phthalate metabolites in children in a large US study. METHODS We used data from 2369 participants 6-19 years old from the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who recalled their diet over the 24 h prior to urine collection. We used dietary data to estimate intake and source (i.e., prepared at a restaurant vs. purchased from a grocery store) of 136 food groups. We used reduced rank regression to identify dietary patterns explaining variation in overall urinary concentrations of ∑di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and seven phthalate metabolites. We also examined pairwise associations between food groups and urinary phthalate metabolites. RESULTS We identified eight dietary patterns that cumulatively explained 12.1% of variation in urinary phthalate metabolites, including a dietary pattern characterized by certain starchy vegetables (e.g., plantains and lima beans), quick breads, and citrus juice prepared at a restaurant. A one SD increase in this food pattern score was associated with a 37.2% higher monocarboxyoctyl phthalate (MCOP) concentration (95% CI: 30.3, 44.4). We also observed weak associations between certain food groups and urinary phthalate metabolites (e.g., a one SD increase in intake of certain starchy vegetables prepared at a restaurant was associated with a 1.8% [95% CI: 0.7, 2.8] higher MCOP). CONCLUSIONS Children whose diets were characterized by higher consumption of certain starchy vegetables, quick breads, and citrus juices prepared at a restaurant had higher urinary phthalate metabolites. More detailed information on the specific methods of food processing and details on packaging materials is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carwile
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA.
| | - Shravanthi M Seshasayee
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jorge E Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Abby F Fleisch
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA; Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
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24
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Hutcheon JA, Janevic T, Ahrens KA. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis Hospitalizations in Young Infants After the Introduction of Paid Family Leave in New York State, 2015‒2019. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:316-324. [PMID: 35080932 PMCID: PMC8802600 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2021.306559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To determine if the introduction of New York State's 8-week paid family leave policy on January 1, 2018, reduced rates of hospitalizations with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis or any acute lower respiratory tract infection among young infants. Methods. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using New York State population-based, all-payer hospital discharge records, October 2015 to December 2019. We estimated the change in monthly hospitalization rates for RSV bronchiolitis and for any acute lower respiratory tract infection among infants aged 8 weeks or younger after the introduction of paid family leave while controlling for temporal trends and RSV seasonality. We modeled RSV hospitalization rates in infants aged 1 year as a control. Results. Hospitalization rates for RSV bronchiolitis and any acute lower respiratory tract infection decreased by 30% after the introduction of paid family leave (rate ratio [RR] = 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54, 0.94; and RR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.59, 0.88, respectively). There were no such reductions in infants aged 1 year (RR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.72, 1.33; and RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.32, respectively). Conclusions. State paid family leave was associated with fewer RSV-associated hospitalizations in young infants. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(2):316-324. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306559).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Jennifer A. Hutcheon is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Teresa Janevic is with the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute and the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, and Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Katherine A. Ahrens is with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland
| | - Teresa Janevic
- Jennifer A. Hutcheon is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Teresa Janevic is with the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute and the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, and Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Katherine A. Ahrens is with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Jennifer A. Hutcheon is with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Teresa Janevic is with the Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute and the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science, and Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Katherine A. Ahrens is with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland
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25
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Schummers L, Oveisi N, Ohtsuka MS, Hutcheon JA, Ahrens KA, Liauw J, Norman WV. Early pregnancy loss incidence in high-income settings: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2021; 10:274. [PMID: 34696805 PMCID: PMC8543941 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01815-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early pregnancy loss (unintended pregnancy loss before 20 completed weeks of gestation) is a common adverse pregnancy outcome, with previous evidence reporting incidence ranging from 10 to 30% of detected pregnancies. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the incidence and range of early pregnancy loss in contemporary pregnant populations based on studies with good internal and external validity. Findings may be useful for clinical counseling in pre-conception and family planning settings and for people who experience early pregnancy loss. METHODS We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases using combinations of medical subject headings and keywords. Peer-reviewed, full-text original research articles that meet the following criteria will be included: (1) human study; (2) study designs: controlled clinical trials or observational studies with at least 100 pregnancies in the denominator, or systematic reviews of studies using these designs; (3) conducted in high-income countries; (4) reporting early pregnancy loss incidence, defined as unintended early pregnancy loss occurring prior to 20 weeks' gestation expressed as the number of losses among all pregnancies in the study period; (5) among a contemporary (1990 or later) general population of pregnancies; and (6) published between January 1, 1990, and August 31, 2021. We will assess the quality of included studies according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force Criteria for Assessing Internal and External Validity of Individual Studies. If appropriate, based on methodological comparability across included studies, we will conduct meta-analyses using random effects models to estimate the pooled incidence of early pregnancy loss among all studies with both good internal and external validity, with meta-analyses stratified by study design type (survey-based or self-reported and medical record-based), by induced abortion restrictions (restricted vs. unrestricted), and by gestational age (first trimester only vs. all gestational ages before 20 weeks). DISCUSSION This systematic review will synthesize existing evidence to calculate a current estimate of early pregnancy loss incidence and variability in reported incidence estimates in high-income settings. The findings of this review may inform updates to clinical counseling in pre-conception and family planning settings, as well as for patients experiencing early pregnancy loss. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION We have registered this review with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO #226267 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- L Schummers
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, E303 - 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada.
| | - N Oveisi
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, E303 - 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - M S Ohtsuka
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, E303 - 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - J A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Suite 930, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2K8, Canada
| | - K A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, 32 Bedford St, Portland, ME, 04101, USA
| | - J Liauw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Suite 930, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2K8, Canada
| | - W V Norman
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, E303 - 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3N1, Canada.,Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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26
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Ahrens KA, Skjeldestad FE. Trends in initiation of hormonal contraceptive methods among teenagers born between 1989 and 1997 in Norway and the United States. Contraception 2021; 104:635-641. [PMID: 34329611 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.07.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess initiation of hormonal contraception among women aged 15-19 in the US and Norway by birth cohort. STUDY DESIGN We used population-based survey (US) and administrative (Norway) data to estimate the cumulative probability of age at first use of hormonal contraception for female residents born between 1989 and 1997 in 3-year birth cohorts. Differences between countries were assessed using confidence intervals, and differences between birth cohorts were assessed using survival analysis. RESULTS At age 15, first use of any hormonal method was higher among US respondents (16%-17% US vs 10%-13% Norway), whereas for ages 16 to 19 use was higher among Norwegian women (by age 19, 60%-64% US vs 76%-78% Norway). Similar patterns were observed for pill use; however, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), implant, and intrauterine device (IUD) use tended to be higher among US women. In both countries, cumulative first use of the pill, patch, ring, and DMPA declined across birth cohorts while first use of implants and IUDs increased. CONCLUSION Age at initiation and type of first hormonal method use differed between US and Norwegian teenagers. These differences may contribute to the lower teen birth rate in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME United States.
| | - Finn Egil Skjeldestad
- Department of Community Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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27
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Ahrens KA, Hutcheon JA. Advancing the methodological quality of studies on short birth spacing and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Where to next? Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2021; 35:389-391. [PMID: 34184300 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Public Health Program, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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28
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Schummers L, Hutcheon JA, Norman WV, Liauw J, Bolatova T, Ahrens KA. Short interpregnancy interval and pregnancy outcomes: How important is the timing of confounding variable ascertainment? Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2021; 35:428-437. [PMID: 33270912 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estimation of causal effects of short interpregnancy interval on pregnancy outcomes may be confounded by time-varying factors. These confounders should be ascertained at or before delivery of the first ("index") pregnancy, but are often only measured at the subsequent pregnancy. OBJECTIVES To quantify bias induced by adjusting for time-varying confounders ascertained at the subsequent (rather than the index) pregnancy in estimated effects of short interpregnancy interval on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS We analysed linked records for births in British Columbia, Canada, 2004-2014, to women with ≥2 singleton pregnancies (n = 121 151). We used log binomial regression to compare short (<6, 6-11, 12-17 months) to 18-23-month reference intervals for 5 outcomes: perinatal mortality (stillbirth and neonatal death); small for gestational age (SGA) birth and preterm delivery (all, early, spontaneous). We calculated per cent differences between adjusted risk ratios (aRR) from two models with maternal age, low socio-economic status, body mass index, and smoking ascertained in the index pregnancy and the subsequent pregnancy. We considered relative per cent differences <5% minimal, 5%-9% modest, and ≥10% substantial. RESULTS Adjustment for confounders measured at the subsequent pregnancy introduced modest bias towards the null for perinatal mortality aRRs for <6-month interpregnancy intervals [-9.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -15.3, -6.2). SGA aRRs were minimally biased towards the null (-1.1%, 95% CI -2.6, 0.8) for <6-month intervals. While early preterm delivery aRRs were substantially biased towards the null (-10.4%, 95% CI -14.0, -6.6) for <6-month interpregnancy intervals, bias was minimal for <6-month intervals for all preterm deliveries (-0.6%, 95% CI -2.0, 0.8) and spontaneous preterm deliveries (-1.3%, 95% CI -3.1, 0.1). For all outcomes, bias was attenuated and minimal for 6-11-month and 12-17-month interpregnancy intervals. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that maternally linked pregnancy data may not be needed for appropriate confounder adjustment when studying the effects of short interpregnancy interval on pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schummers
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wendy V Norman
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jessica Liauw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Talshyn Bolatova
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Policy, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
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29
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Ahrens KA, Lipkind HS. Studying the causal effect of long interpregnancy intervals. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2021; 35:401-403. [PMID: 32368819 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Heather S Lipkind
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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30
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Ahrens KA, Rossen LM, Burgess AR, Palmsten KK, Ziller EC. Rural-Urban Residence and Maternal Hepatitis C Infection, U.S.: 2010-2018. Am J Prev Med 2021; 60:820-830. [PMID: 33640230 PMCID: PMC8154677 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among women delivering live births in the U.S. may be higher in rural areas where county-level estimates may be unreliable. The aim of this study is to model county-level maternal hepatitis C virus infection among deliveries in the U.S. METHODS In 2020, U.S. natality files (2010-2018) with county-level maternal residence information were used from states that had adopted the 2003 revised U.S. birth certificate, which included a field for hepatitis C virus infection present during pregnancy. Hierarchical Bayesian spatial models with spatiotemporal random effects were applied to produce stable annual county-level estimates of maternal hepatitis C virus infection for years when all states had adopted the revised birth certificate (2016-2018). Models included a 6-Level Urban-Rural County Classification Scheme along with the birth year and county-specific covariates to improve posterior predictions. RESULTS Among approximately 32 million live births, the overall prevalence of maternal hepatitis C virus infection was 3.5 per 1,000 births (increased from 2.0 in 2010 to 5.0 in 2018). During 2016-2018, posterior predicted median county-level maternal hepatitis C virus infection rates showed that nonurban counties had 3.5-3.8 times higher rates of hepatitis C virus than large central metropolitan counties. The counties in the top 10th percentile for maternal hepatitis C virus rates in 2018 were generally located in Appalachia, in Northern New England, along the northern border in the Upper Midwest, and in New Mexico. CONCLUSIONS Further implementation of community-level interventions that are effective in reducing maternal hepatitis C virus infection and its subsequent morbidity may help to reduce geographic and rural disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine.
| | - Lauren M Rossen
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland
| | - Amanda R Burgess
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
| | | | - Erika C Ziller
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
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31
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Willis SK, Hatch EE, Wesselink AK, Rothman KJ, Mikkelsen EM, Ahrens KA, Wise LA. Post-partum interval and time to pregnancy in a prospective preconception cohort. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2021; 35:271-280. [PMID: 32700808 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the influence of the post-partum interval-defined as the time between giving birth and attempting to conceive again-on subsequent fecundability. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the association between the post-partum interval and fecundability in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a web-based prospective preconception cohort of pregnancy planners from the United States and Canada. METHODS Eligible women were aged 21-45 years, attempting pregnancy, and not using fertility treatment. Women completed a baseline questionnaire to ascertain information on demographics, life style factors, and reproductive history, including detailed information on all previous pregnancies. They completed bi-monthly follow-up questionnaires for up to 12 months to update pregnancy status over time. We used proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for sociodemographic and reproductive history covariates. Analyses were restricted to multiparous women who had been attempting pregnancy with the same male partner for ≤6 menstrual cycles at enrolment. RESULTS During 2013-2019, 1489 female participants contributed 959 pregnancies and 5003 cycles. The median post-partum interval was 18 months. Compared with a 12- to 23-month post-partum interval, FRs for post-partum intervals of <12, 24-47, and ≥48 months were 0.89 (95% CI 0.77, 1.04), 1.06 (95% CI 0.91, 1.23), and 0.81 (95% CI 0.62, 1.05), respectively. When restricting to women without a history of subfertility, results were consistent for long post-partum interval and attenuated for short post-partum interval. CONCLUSIONS Among North American pregnancy planners, long post-partum intervals (≥48 months) were associated with slightly reduced fecundability. Short post-partum intervals (<12 months) were weakly associated with reduced fecundability in some subgroups including women with a history of caesarean delivery and planned pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney K Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Hatch
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amelia K Wesselink
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth J Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ellen M Mikkelsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Gabrielson SMB, Carwile JL, O'Connor AB, Ahrens KA. Corrigendum to "Maternal opioid use disorder at delivery hospitalization in a rural state: Maine, 2009-2018" [Public Health 181C (2020) 171-179]. Public Health 2021; 193:153-155. [PMID: 33958075 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S M B Gabrielson
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA
| | - J L Carwile
- Division of Applied Health Care Delivery Science, Department of Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - A B O'Connor
- Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Waterville, ME, USA
| | - K A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME, USA.
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Janis JA, Ahrens KA, Kozhimannil KB, Ziller EC. Contraceptive Method Use by Rural-Urban Residence among Women and Men in the United States, 2006 to 2017. Womens Health Issues 2021; 31:277-285. [PMID: 33531190 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Policy and reproductive health practice changes in the past decade have affected use of different contraceptive methods, but no study has assessed contraceptive method use over this time by rural-urban residence in the United States. METHODS We used female and male respondent data (2006-2017) from the National Survey of Family Growth (n = 29,133 women and n = 24,364 men) to estimate contraceptive method use by rural-urban residence over time and contraceptive method use by age, marital status, and parity/number of children. RESULTS From 2006-2010 to 2013-2017, among urban women, we found increased use of two or more methods (11% to 14%); increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 11%), implants (0 to 2%), and withdrawal (5 to 8%); and decreased use of sterilization (28% to 22%) and pills (26% to 22%). Among rural women, we found increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 9%) and implants (1% to 5%). We found increased withdrawal use for urban men, but otherwise no differences among men across time. In data pooled across all survey periods (2006-2017), contraceptive method use varied by rural-urban residence across age, marital status, and parity/number of children. CONCLUSIONS In a nationally representative sample of reproductive age women and men, we found rural-urban differences in contraceptive method use from 2006-2010 to 2013-2017. Describing contraceptive use differences by rural-urban residence is necessary for tailoring reproductive health services to populations appropriately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn A Janis
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Portland, Maine; Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine.
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Portland, Maine
| | - Katy B Kozhimannil
- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Erika C Ziller
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Portland, Maine
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Carwile JL, Ahrens KA, Seshasayee SM, Lanphear B, Fleisch AF. Predictors of Plasma Fluoride Concentrations in Children and Adolescents. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17249205. [PMID: 33317121 PMCID: PMC7764416 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Despite increasing concerns about neurotoxicity of fluoride in children, sources of fluoride exposure apart from municipal water fluoridation are poorly understood. We aimed to describe the associations of demographics, drinking water characteristics, diet, and oral health behaviors with plasma fluoride concentrations in U.S. children. We used data from 3928 6–19-year-olds from the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We used a 24-h dietary recall to estimate recent consumption of fluoridated tap water and select foods. We estimated the associations of fluoridated tap water, time of last dental visit, use of toothpaste, and frequency of daily tooth brushing with plasma fluoride concentrations. The participants who consumed fluoridated (≥0.7 mg/L) tap water (n = 560, 16%) versus those who did not had 36% (95% CI: 22, 51) higher plasma fluoride. Children who drank black or green tea (n = 503, 13%) had 42% higher plasma fluoride concentrations (95% CI: 27, 58) than non-tea drinkers. The intake of other foods and oral health behaviors were not associated with plasma fluoride concentrations. The consumption of fluoridated tap water and tea substantially increases plasma fluoride concentrations in children. Quantifying the contribution of diet and other sources of fluoride is critical to establishing safe target levels for municipal water fluoridation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L. Carwile
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA; (S.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04101, USA;
| | - Shravanthi M. Seshasayee
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA; (S.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6, Canada;
| | - Abby F. Fleisch
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland, ME 04101, USA; (S.M.S.); (A.F.F.)
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04101, USA
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Abstract
Background: Folate depletion in the postpartum period may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for women with a short interpregnancy interval following a live birth. We sought to examine folate levels by time since last live birth among U.S. women. Materials and Methods: Data were from 4,809 U.S. women, 20-44 years of age, participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2016. Red blood cell (RBC) folate was measured using microbiological assay on whole blood samples. Dietary folate intake and folic acid supplementation were measured during a 24-hour dietary recall. Prevalence of supplementation by time since last live birth was estimated from logistic regression models; mean levels of RBC folate and mean intake of dietary folate equivalent were estimated from linear regression models. Models were adjusted for maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Results: In adjusted models, supplementation (±standard error) was highest among women in the first year postpartum (31.7% ± 3.2) compared with nulliparous women (23.7% ± 1.9) and those 2-3 years (15.6% ± 1.9) and ≥3 years (18.4% ± 1.6) after last live birth. Mean RBC folate was highest among women in the first year postpartum, regardless of supplementation, with overall mean levels of 606 ± 15 ng/mL, compared with 484 ± 9, 477 ± 11, and 474 ± 7 among women in the aforementioned groups, respectively. Mean dietary folate intake was also highest among postpartum women: 542 ± 23 mcg/day, compared with 474 ± 12, 486 ± 21, and 467 ± 12. Conclusions: Folate levels are highest in the first year postpartum compared with other time periods within a woman's reproductive lifespan. These findings do not support the idea that postpartum U.S. women are depleted in folate, on average.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Vladutiu
- Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Veni Kandasamy
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
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Ahrens KA, Hutcheon JA. Time for Better Access to High-Quality Abortion Data in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 2020; 189:640-647. [PMID: 32219373 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite considerable lay attention on the regulation and legislation of abortion in the United States, important gaps remain in our understanding of its incidence and health and social consequences since its legalization in 1973. Many of these gaps in knowledge can be attributed to a lack of access to high-quality, individual-level abortion data over the past 46 years. Herein, we review the strengths and limitations of different, currently available methods for enumerating abortions in the United States and discuss how lack of access to high-quality data limits our surveillance and research activities of not only abortion but other important reproductive and perinatal health outcomes. We conclude by discussing some potential opportunities for improved access to high-quality abortion data in the United States.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised its infant vitamin D intake guidelines in 2008. We aimed to examine previously unexplored trends in meeting vitamin D intake guidelines among US infants since 2009 and whether there were differences across demographic subgroups. METHODS We analyzed dietary recall data for infants 0 to 11 months in the 2009-2016 NHANES. We estimated the percentage meeting 2008 AAP vitamin D guidelines, defined as consuming ≥1 L of infant formula and/or receiving a vitamin D supplement of ≥400 IU. We used Poisson regressions to assess trends over time and differences across demographic subgroups. RESULTS Overall, 27.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.3%-29.8%) of US infants in 2009-2016 met vitamin D intake guidelines, with nonbreastfeeding infants (31.1% [95% CI: 27.6%-34.5%]) more likely to meet guidelines than breastfeeding infants (20.5% [95% CI: 15.4%-25.5%]; P < .01). From 2009-2010 to 2015-2016, overall and for both breastfeeding and nonbreastfeeding infants, there were no significant changes over time in the percentage of infants who met the guidelines (P > .05). Among breastfeeding infants, those with a family income ≥400% of the federal poverty level, with a college graduate head of household, and with private insurance were more likely to meet guidelines. CONCLUSIONS Among US infants, we observed no increase in meeting AAP vitamin D intake guidelines since 2009. Less than 40% of infants met guidelines in nearly all demographic subgroups. These findings suggest renewed consideration of how to best meet vitamin D intake guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E. Simon
- Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes
Program, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Rockville,
Maryland; and
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of
Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
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Nenninger EK, Carwile JL, Ahrens KA, Armstrong B, Thakarar K. Rural-Urban Differences in Hospitalizations for Opioid Use-Associated Infective Endocarditis in the United States, 2003-2016. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa045. [PMID: 32123692 PMCID: PMC7039404 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of infective endocarditis, a serious heart infection that can result from injection drug use, has increased in step with the opioid epidemic. Harm reduction services aimed at decreasing infectious complications of injection drug use are limited in rural areas; however, it is unknown whether the burden of opioid use–associated infective endocarditis varies between rural and urban populations. Methods We used 2003–2016 National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample data and joinpoint regression to compare trends in hospitalization for opioid use–associated infective endocarditis between rural and urban populations. Results Rates of US hospitalizations for opioid use–associated infective endocarditis increased from 0.28 to 3.86 per 100 000 rural residents, as compared with 1.26 to 3.49 for urban residents (overall difference in annual percent change P < .01). We observed 2 distinct trend periods, with a period of little change between 2003 and 2009/2010 (annual percent change, 0.0% rural vs –0.08% urban) followed by a large increase in hospitalization rates between 2009/2010 and 2016 (annual percent change, 0.35% rural vs 0.36% urban). Over the study period, opioid use–associated infective endocarditis hospitalizations shifted toward younger age groups for both rural and urban residents, and rural resident hospitalizations increasingly occurred at urban teaching hospitals. For both groups, Medicaid was the most common payer. Conclusions The increase in US hospitalizations for opioid use–associated infective endocarditis over the past decade supports the importance of public health efforts to reduce injection-related infections in both urban and rural areas. Future studies should examine factors affecting the higher increase in rate of these hospitalizations in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Katherine Nenninger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.,Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Maine, USA
| | - Jenny L Carwile
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.,Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Maine, USA
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, USA
| | - Brett Armstrong
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine, USA
| | - Kinna Thakarar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA.,Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, Maine, USA.,Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine, USA
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Thompson TA, Ahrens KA, Coplon L. Virtually possible: using telehealth to bring reproductive health care to women with opioid use disorder in rural Maine. Mhealth 2020; 6:41. [PMID: 33437837 PMCID: PMC7793013 DOI: 10.21037/mhealth-19-237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) has increased more sharply in recent years among rural residents in the United States than among urban residents. In 2018, the prevalence of maternal OUD accounted for 3.5% of all hospital deliveries in Maine. Opioid use during pregnancy is associated with negative health effects for both the woman and infant. While many women with OUD use contraception, few report using a highly reliable method. METHODS A family planning clinic in Maine piloted a program to increase reproductive health access for women with OUD through the use of telehealth. In this model, a community outreach educator travelled to a community organization that serves this population to provide reproductive health information and an opportunity to connect with a nurse practitioner via telehealth to receive the following reproductive health services: HIV counseling and testing, contraception, or pregnancy testing and counseling. We assessed the feasibility of this program through the following outcome measures: number of women who engaged with the community outreach educator, number of women who used telehealth services, and number of women who received services at a referred clinic during the six-month pilot. RESULTS During the pilot program, the community outreach educator held eighteen educational sessions and engaged fifty-one women; providing condoms and/or answers to various reproductive health questions. Fifteen women used telehealth services. The majority used the service to receive testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as HIV. Four women used telehealth for contraceptive services and received either birth control or the Depo-Provera injectable on-site. A third of the women received more than one reproductive health service via telehealth. Of the women who were referred to a family planning clinic for additional services, only 2 attended their appointment. No challenges with hearing or seeing the practitioner through the video platform were recorded. CONCLUSIONS Improving women's access to effective contraceptive methods and preventive reproductive health services is critical to ensuring women with OUD are able to seek effective treatment and to ensure the health of future pregnancies. Findings from this pilot program suggest that innovative health care models such as on-site provision of reproductive health care through telehealth have the potential to increase access to reproductive care for this hard-to-reach population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Portland, ME, USA
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Janis JA, Ahrens KA, Ziller EC. Female Age at First Sexual Intercourse by Rural–Urban Residence and Birth Cohort. Womens Health Issues 2019; 29:489-498. [DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Loyola Briceno AC, Ahrens KA, Thoma ME, Moskosky S. Availability of Services Related to Achieving Pregnancy in U.S. Publicly Funded Family Planning Clinics. Womens Health Issues 2019; 29:447-454. [PMID: 31494026 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recognizing that quality family planning services should include services to help clients who want to become pregnant, the objective of our analysis was to examine the distribution of services related to achieving pregnancy at publicly funded family planning clinics in the United States. METHODS A nationally representative sample of publicly funded clinics was surveyed in 2013-2014 (n = 1615). Clinic administrators were asked about several clinical services and screenings related to achieving pregnancy: basic infertility services, reproductive life plan assessment, screening for body mass index, screening for sexually transmitted diseases, provision of natural family planning services, infertility treatment, and primary care services. The percentage of clinics offering each of these services was compared by Title X funding status; prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated after adjusting for clinic characteristics. RESULTS Compared to non-Title X clinics, Title X clinics were more likely to offer reproductive life plan assessment (adjusted PR [aPR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.42-1.84), body mass index screening for men (aPR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21), screening for sexually transmitted diseases (aPRs ranged from 1.21 to 1.37), and preconception health care for men (aPR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.20). Title X clinics were less likely to offer infertility treatment (aPR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.40-0.74) and primary care services (aPR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68-0.80) and were just as likely to offer basic infertility services, preconception health care services for women, natural family planning, and body mass index screening in women. CONCLUSIONS The availability of selected services related to achieving pregnancy differed by Title X status. A follow-up assessment after publication of national family planning recommendations is underway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Office of Population Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland; University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Public Health Program, Portland, Maine
| | - Marie E Thoma
- University of Maryland, Department of Family Science, College Park, Maryland
| | - Susan Moskosky
- Office of Population Affairs, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland
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Thoma ME, Rossen LM, De Silva DA, Warner M, Simon AE, Moskosky S, Ahrens KA. Beyond birth outcomes: Interpregnancy interval and injury-related infant mortality. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2019; 33:360-370. [PMID: 31512273 PMCID: PMC6913028 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have examined the association between IPI and birth outcomes, but few have explored the association between interpregnancy interval (IPI) and postnatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between IPI and injury-related infant mortality, a leading cause of postneonatal mortality. METHODS We used 2011-2015 US period-linked birth-infant death vital statistics data to generate a multiyear birth cohort of non-first-born singleton births (N = 9 782 029). IPI was defined as the number of months between a live birth and the start of the pregnancy leading to the next live birth. Causes of death in the first year of life were identified using ICD-10 codes. Hazard ratios (HR) for IPI categories were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for birth order, county poverty level, and maternal characteristics (marital status, race/ethnicity, education, age at previous birth). RESULTS After adjustment, overall infant mortality (48.1 per 10 000 births) was higher for short and long IPIs compared with IPI 18-23 months (reference): <6, aHR 1.61, 95% CI 1.54, 1.68; 6-11, aHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.17, 1.26; and 60+ months, aHR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08, 1.16. In comparison, the risk of injury-related infant mortality (4.4 per 10 000 births) decreased with longer IPIs: <6, aHR 1.77, 95% CI 1.55, 2.01; 6-11, aHR 1.41, 95% CI 1.25, 1.59; 12-17, aHR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10, 1.41; 24-59, aHR 0.78, 95% CI 0.69, 0.87; and 60+ months, aHR 0.55, 95% CI 0.48, 0.62. CONCLUSION Unlike overall infant mortality, injury-related infant mortality decreased with IPI length. While injury-related deaths are rare, these patterns suggest that the timing between births may be a marker of risk for fatal infant injuries. The first year postpartum may be an ideal time for the delivery of evidence-based injury prevention programmes as well as family planning services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie E Thoma
- Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Lauren M Rossen
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Health Statistics Branch, Hyattsville, MD
| | - Dane A De Silva
- Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Margaret Warner
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vital Statistics, Mortality Statistics Branch, Hyattsville, MD
| | - Alan E Simon
- Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Project Office, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
| | - Susan Moskosky
- Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD
- Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
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Abstract
This study explores the prevalence of electronic cigarette use among US adults in households with children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abby F. Fleisch
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough
| | - Kirsten Young
- Department of Medicine, Maine Medical Center, Portland
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Fowler CI, Ahrens KA, Decker E, Gable J, Wang J, Frederiksen B, Loyola Briceño AC, Moskosky SB. Patterns and trends in contraceptive use among women attending Title X clinics and a national sample of low-income women. Contracept X 2019; 1:100004. [PMID: 32550524 PMCID: PMC7286153 DOI: 10.1016/j.conx.2019.100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To describe the types of contraception used by women attending Title X-funded clinics and a comparable group of low-income reproductive-age women at risk of unintended pregnancy. Study design We estimated the percentage of reproductive aged (15-44 years) women using contraception, by method type and level of effectiveness in preventing pregnancy (i.e., most, moderately, and less effective), using Title X Family Planning Annual Report (2006-2016) and National Survey of Family Growth (2006-2015) data. We divided most effective methods into permanent (female and male sterilization) and reversible (long-acting reversible contraceptives [LARCs]) methods. Results Among Title X clients during 2006-2016, use of LARCs increased (3-14%); use of moderately effective methods decreased (64-54%); and use of sterilization (~ 2%), less effective methods (21-20%), and no method (8-7%) was unchanged. These same trends in contraceptive use were observed in a comparable group of women nationally during 2006-2015, during which LARC use increased (5-19%, p < .001); moderately effective method use decreased (60-48%, p < .001); and use of sterilization (~5%), less effective methods (19%), and no method (11-10%) was unchanged. Conclusions The contraceptive method mix among Title X clients differs from that of low-income women at risk of unintended pregnancy nationally, but general patterns and trends are similar in the two populations. Research is needed to understand whether method use patterns among low-income women reflect their preferences, access, or the conditions of the supply environment. Implications This study contributes to our understanding of patterns and trends in contraceptive use among two groups of reproductive-age women - Title X clients and low-income women nationally who are at risk of unintended pregnancy. The findings highlight areas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina I Fowler
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 27709
| | - Katherine A Ahrens
- US Office of Population Affairs, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC, USA 20201
| | - Emily Decker
- US Office of Population Affairs, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC, USA 20201
| | - Julia Gable
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 27709
| | - Jiantong Wang
- RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 27709
| | - Brittni Frederiksen
- US Office of Population Affairs, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC, USA 20201
| | | | - Susan B Moskosky
- US Office of Population Affairs, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC, USA 20201
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Haight SC, Hogue CJ, Raskind-Hood CL, Ahrens KA. Short interpregnancy intervals and adverse pregnancy outcomes by maternal age in the United States. Ann Epidemiol 2019; 31:38-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Pollack AZ, Rivers K, Ahrens KA. Parity associated with telomere length among US reproductive age women. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:736-744. [PMID: 29452389 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is telomere length related to parity among a nationally representative sample of US reproductive age women? SUMMARY ANSWER History of live birth was associated with shorter telomere length. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Shorter telomeres have been linked with a range of chronic health conditions and mortality and parity has been associated with health indicators. However, there is a lack of research on how parity relates to telomere length. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This nationally representative, cross-sectional study included 1954 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002, the only survey period which includes measurement of telomere length. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Women aged 20-44 were included. Parity, defined as number of previous live births, was ascertained by questionnaire. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by polymerase chain reaction and reported as a ratio in relation to standard reference DNA (T/S ratio). The relationship between leukocyte T/S ratio and parity was examined using survey weighted linear regression. Models were adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, BMI, income-to-poverty ratio, education, early age at menarche and smoking status. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Among reproductive age women in the US, the adjusted mean leukocyte T/S ratio was 4.2% (95% CI: 0.9, 7.3) shorter in parous compared with nulliparous women. Parity was associated with 116 fewer base pairs (95% CI: 26, 204) on average, using estimated coefficients from the adjusted linear regression models and mean covariate values. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was cross-sectional and therefore was unable to establish temporality. The dataset lacked information on social factors, stress and fertility status, which may help explain these findings. Only two previous studies have examined this question and our findings should be interpreted with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS These findings in a nationally representative sample of US reproductive age women suggest that history of live birth may be associated with accelerated cellular aging. The magnitude of the observed association was greater than that of the impact of smoking or obesity on telomere length, suggesting that parity may have an independent influence on cellular aging and warrant further study. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was funded in part by the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program at George Mason University. The authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NA.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Z Pollack
- Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive MS5B7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - K Rivers
- Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive MS5B7, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - K A Ahrens
- Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 700, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
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Ahrens KA, Hutcheon JA, Ananth CV, Basso O, Briss PA, Ferré CD, Frederiksen BN, Harper S, Hernández‐Díaz S, Hirai AH, Kirby RS, Klebanoff MA, Lindberg L, Mumford SL, Nelson HD, Platt RW, Rossen LM, Stuebe AM, Thoma ME, Vladutiu CJ, Moskosky S. Report of the Office of Population Affairs' expert work group meeting on short birth spacing and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Methodological quality of existing studies and future directions for research. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2019; 33:O5-O14. [PMID: 30300948 PMCID: PMC6378402 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that women wait at least 24 months after a livebirth before attempting a subsequent pregnancy to reduce the risk of adverse maternal, perinatal, and infant health outcomes. However, the applicability of the WHO recommendations for women in the United States is unclear, as breast feeding, nutrition, maternal age at first birth, and total fertility rate differs substantially between the United States and the low- and middle-resource countries upon which most of the evidence is based. METHODS To inform guideline development for birth spacing specific to women in the United States, the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) convened an expert work group meeting in Washington, DC, on 14-15 September 2017 among reproductive, perinatal, paediatric, social, and public health epidemiologists; obstetrician-gynaecologists; biostatisticians; and experts in evidence synthesis related to women's health. RESULTS Presentations and discussion topics included the methodological quality of existing studies, evaluation of the evidence for causal effects of short interpregnancy intervals on adverse perinatal and maternal health outcomes, good practices for future research, and identification of research gaps and priorities for future work. CONCLUSIONS This report provides an overview of the presentations, discussions, and conclusions from the expert work group meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A. Ahrens
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
| | - Jennifer A. Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Cande V. Ananth
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyVagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York,Department of EpidemiologyJoseph L. Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Olga Basso
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyRoyal Victoria HospitalResearch Institute of McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Peter A. Briss
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Cynthia D. Ferré
- Maternal and Infant Health BranchDivision of Reproductive HealthNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Brittni N. Frederiksen
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
| | - Sam Harper
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Sonia Hernández‐Díaz
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T. H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMassachusetts
| | - Ashley H. Hirai
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health BureauOffice of Epidemiology and ResearchRockvilleMaryland
| | - Russell S. Kirby
- Department of Community and Family HealthUniversity of South Florida College of Public HealthTampaFlorida
| | - Mark A. Klebanoff
- Center for Perinatal ResearchDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division of EpidemiologyThe Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhio
| | | | - Sunni L. Mumford
- Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Epidemiology BranchNational Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentBethesdaMaryland
| | - Heidi D. Nelson
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical EpidemiologyOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregon
| | - Robert W. Platt
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Lauren M. Rossen
- Reproductive Statistics BranchDivision of Vital StatisticsNational Center for Health StatisticsCenters for Disease Control and PreventionHyattsvilleMaryland
| | - Alison M. Stuebe
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDepartment of Maternal and Child HealthGillings School of Global Public HealthUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Marie E. Thoma
- Department of Family ScienceUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Catherine J. Vladutiu
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health BureauOffice of Epidemiology and ResearchRockvilleMaryland
| | - Susan Moskosky
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
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48
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Hutcheon JA, Nelson HD, Stidd R, Moskosky S, Ahrens KA. Short interpregnancy intervals and adverse maternal outcomes in high-resource settings: An updated systematic review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2019; 33:O48-O59. [PMID: 30311955 PMCID: PMC7380038 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, no federal guidelines provide recommendations on healthy birth spacing for women in the United States. This systematic review summarises associations between short interpregnancy intervals and adverse maternal outcomes to inform the development of birth spacing recommendations for the United States. METHODS PubMed/Medline, POPLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and a previous systematic review were searched to identify relevant articles published from 1 January 2006 and 1 May 2017. Included studies reported maternal health outcomes following a short versus longer interpregnancy interval, were conducted in high-resource settings, and adjusted estimates for at least maternal age. Two investigators independently assessed study quality and applicability using established methods. RESULTS Seven cohort studies met inclusion criteria. There was limited but consistent evidence that short interpregnancy interval is associated with increased risk of precipitous labour and decreased risks of labour dystocia. There was some evidence that short interpregnancy interval is associated with increased risks of subsequent pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational diabetes, and decreased risk of preeclampsia. Among women with a previous caesarean delivery, short interpregnancy interval was associated with increased risk of uterine rupture in one study. No studies reported outcomes related to maternal depression, interpregnancy weight gain, maternal anaemia, or maternal mortality. CONCLUSIONS In studies from high-resource settings, short interpregnancy intervals are associated with both increased and decreased risks of adverse maternal outcomes. However, most outcomes were evaluated in single studies, and the strength of evidence supporting associations is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Heidi D. Nelson
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical EpidemiologyOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregon
| | - Reva Stidd
- Atlas ResearchWashingtonDistrict of Columbia
| | - Susan Moskosky
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesOffice of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Office of Population Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jennifer A Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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50
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Hutcheon JA, Moskosky S, Ananth CV, Basso O, Briss PA, Ferré CD, Frederiksen BN, Harper S, Hernández‐Díaz S, Hirai AH, Kirby RS, Klebanoff MA, Lindberg L, Mumford SL, Nelson HD, Platt RW, Rossen LM, Stuebe AM, Thoma ME, Vladutiu CJ, Ahrens KA. Good practices for the design, analysis, and interpretation of observational studies on birth spacing and perinatal health outcomes. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2019; 33:O15-O24. [PMID: 30311958 PMCID: PMC6378590 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meta-analyses of observational studies have shown that women with a shorter interpregnancy interval (the time from delivery to start of a subsequent pregnancy) are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery or small for gestational age birth, than women who space their births further apart. However, the studies used to inform these estimates have methodological shortcomings. METHODS In this commentary, we summarise the discussions of an expert workgroup describing good practices for the design, analysis, and interpretation of observational studies of interpregnancy interval and adverse perinatal health outcomes. RESULTS We argue that inferences drawn from research in this field will be improved by careful attention to elements such as: (a) refining the research question to clarify whether the goal is to estimate a causal effect vs describe patterns of association; (b) using directed acyclic graphs to represent potential causal networks and guide the analytic plan of studies seeking to estimate causal effects; (c) assessing how miscarriages and pregnancy terminations may have influenced interpregnancy interval classifications; (d) specifying how key factors such as previous pregnancy loss, pregnancy intention, and maternal socio-economic position will be considered; and (e) examining if the association between interpregnancy interval and perinatal outcome differs by factors such as maternal age. CONCLUSION This commentary outlines the discussions of this recent expert workgroup, and describes several suggested principles for study design and analysis that could mitigate many potential sources of bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Hutcheon
- Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Susan Moskosky
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
| | - Cande V. Ananth
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyIrving College of Physicians and SurgeonsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York,Department of EpidemiologyJoseph L. Mailman School of Public HealthColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew York
| | - Olga Basso
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyRoyal Victoria HospitalResearch Institute of McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Peter A. Briss
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Cynthia D. Ferré
- Maternal and Infant Health BranchDivision of Reproductive HealthNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Brittni N. Frederiksen
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
| | - Sam Harper
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Sonia Hernández‐Díaz
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T. H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMassachusetts
| | - Ashley H. Hirai
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth Resources and Services AdministrationMaternal and Child Health BureauOffice of Epidemiology and ResearchRockvilleMaryland
| | - Russell S. Kirby
- Department of Community and Family HealthUniversity of South Florida College of Public HealthTampaFlorida
| | - Mark A. Klebanoff
- Division of EpidemiologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyCenter for Perinatal ResearchThe Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalThe Ohio State UniversityColumbus Ohio
| | | | - Sunni L. Mumford
- Epidemiology BranchDivision of Intramural Population Health ResearchNational Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentBethesdaMaryland
| | - Heidi D. Nelson
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical EpidemiologyOregon Health and Science UniversityPortlandOregon
| | - Robert W. Platt
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational HealthMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Lauren M. Rossen
- Reproductive Statistics BranchDivision of Vital StatisticsCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Health StatisticsHyattsvilleMaryland
| | - Alison M. Stuebe
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNorth Carolina,Department of Maternal and Child HealthGillings School of Global Public HealthChapel HillNorth Carolina
| | - Marie E. Thoma
- Department of Family ScienceUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Catherine J. Vladutiu
- US Department of Health and Human ServicesHealth Resources and Services AdministrationMaternal and Child Health BureauOffice of Epidemiology and ResearchRockvilleMaryland
| | - Katherine A. Ahrens
- Office of Population AffairsOffice of the Assistant Secretary for HealthRockvilleMaryland
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