title: The risk of congenital malformations, perinatal mortality and neonatal hospitalisation among pregnant women with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is conflicting literature on the effect of maternal asthma on congenital malformations and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review and meta-analysis sought to determine if maternal asthma is associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched electronic databases for: (asthma or wheeze) and (pregnan* or perinat* or obstet*).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort studies published between 1975 and March 2012 reporting at least one perinatal outcome of interest (congenital malformations, neonatal complications, perinatal mortality).
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 21 studies met inclusion criteria in pregnant women with and without asthma. Further analysis was conducted on 16 studies where asthmatic women were stratified by exacerbation history, corticosteroid use, bronchodilator use or asthma severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal asthma was associated with a significantly increased risk of congenital malformations (relative risk [RR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.02-1.21, I(2)  = 59.5%), cleft lip with or without cleft palate (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.01-1.68, I(2)  = 65.6%), neonatal death (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.11-2.00, I(2)  = 0%), and neonatal hospitalisation (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.03-2.20, I(2)  = 64.5%). There was no significant effect of asthma on major malformations (RR 1.31, 95% CI 0.57-3.02, I(2)  = 70.9%) or stillbirth (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.9-1.25, I(2)  = 35%). Exacerbations and use of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids were not associated with congenital malformation risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite limitations related to the observational nature of the primary studies, this review demonstrates a small increased risk of neonatal complications among pregnant women with asthma. Further investigations into mechanisms and potential preventive interventions to improve infant outcomes are required.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. vanessa.murphy@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Namazy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schatz
mesh_terms: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050497:Stillbirth
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents