Influenza A/H1N1v in pregnancy: an investigation of the characteristics and management of affected women and the relationship to pregnancy outcomes for mother and infant

Yates L, Pierce M, Stephens S, Mill A, Spark P, Kurinczuk J, Valappil M, Brocklehurst P, Thomas SH, Knight M
Record ID 32010000827
English
Authors' recommendations: Earlier treatment with antiviral agents is associated with improved outcomes for pregnant women. Further actions are needed in future pandemics to ensure that antiviral agents and vaccines are provided promptly to pregnant women, particularly in the primary care setting. Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with both admission to hospital with confirmed infection and critical illness from AH1N1v infection. This highlights the importance of ongoing work to support obesity prevention at a community level. Maternal smoking, particularly in younger mothers, is also associated with admission with AH1N1v infection in pregnancy. Smoking in pregnancy is associated with a number of risks to both mother and fetus and thus prevention programmes continue to be important. Women with asthma and other comorbidities are more likely to present in primary care or be admitted to hospital with AH1N1v infection in pregnancy. Clinicians should be aware of this association and work to ensure that women with coexisting illnesses in pregnancy are treated appropriately. Data on outcomes of pregnancy in women admitted to hospital with confirmed AH1N1v influenza are, as yet, incomplete. However, there appears to be a significantly increased risk of preterm delivery, which may impact on service provision in a future pandemic. Further research is needed on longer-term outcomes for infants exposed to AH1N1v influenza, antiviral drugs or vaccines during pregnancy. This includes studies of the effects of these factors on: 1.fetal development and congenital malformations 2.postnatal development 3.potentially associated conditions, such as childhood leukaemia.
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.hta.ac.uk/fullmono/mon1434.pdf#nameddest=article02
Year Published: 2010
URL for published report: http://www.hta.ac.uk/2224
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Infant
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype
  • Influenza, Human
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright: 2010 Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
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