Severe asthma exacerbations during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the frequency of severe asthma exacerbations in pregnant women and to estimate whether there is an association with adverse perinatal outcomes.


METHODS
Asthma exacerbations were evaluated in 146 women who were enrolled in a prospective cohort study of asthma and pregnancy. A severe exacerbation was defined as a hospital admission, emergency department presentation, or unscheduled doctor visit for asthma or a course of oral corticosteroids. Women were classified as having mild (n = 63), moderate (n = 34), or severe (n = 49) asthma.


RESULTS
Severe exacerbations occurred in 8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-14.6%) of women with mild asthma, 47% (95% CI 30.3-63.8%) of women with moderate asthma, and 65% (95% CI 52-78.6%) of women with severe asthma at a mean gestational age of 25.1 +/- 0.9 (range 9-39) weeks of gestation. Among women who had severe exacerbations, there were 2 male stillbirths (P = .102) and a significantly increased rate of male low birth weight (P = .03). Maternal age, lung function, body mass index, gravidity, and parity were not different between women who did or those who did not have a severe exacerbation. Maternal pregnancy weight gain was significantly lower in women who had a severe exacerbation (P = .039). Forty-three percent of severe exacerbations occurred in winter, 34% were associated with self-reported viral infection, and 29% with nonadherence to inhaled corticosteroid medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The exacerbation rate among pregnant women with asthma is high and associated with poor outcomes for the male fetus. Improvements in asthma management to prevent severe exacerbations may lead to a better outcome for both mother and baby.


METHODS
II-2.
Murphy
Vanessa E
VE
Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital and Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia. vanessa.murphy@newcastle.edu.au
Gibson
Peter
P
Talbot
Philippa I
PI
Clifton
Vicki L
VL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents