[Quebec Pregnancy Cohort: prevalence of medication use during gestation and pregnancy outcomes].
OBJECTIVE
Many women are exposed to medications during pregnancy. The Quebec Pregnancy Cohort (QPC) is a prospective population-based cohort which includes all data on pregnancies and children between January 1997 and December 2008.


METHODS
We linked four administrative databases in Quebec, Canada: RAMQ (medical and pharmaceutical), MED-ECHO (hospitalizations), ISQ (births/deaths), and MELS (Ministry of Education). Pregnancies included were covered by the Quebec prescription drug insurance plan (36% of women aged 15-45 years) from 12 months prior until the end of pregnancy.


RESULTS
We analyzed 97,680 pregnancies. Prevalence of medication use was 74% pre-pregnancy, 56% during pregnancy, and 80% post-pregnancy. Most frequently used medications during pregnancy were antibiotics (47%), antiemetic drugs (23%), and non-steroïdal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) [17%]. Medication users were more likely to have spontaneous abortions, preterm births, children with congenital malformations and postpartum depression than non-users (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Medications are commonly used during pregnancy. The QPC is a powerful tool for perinatal pharmacoepidemiological research.
Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada - Centre de Recherche, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Anick
A
Bérard
Centre de Recherche, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Odile
O
Sheehy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations