Xianglian Meng's research while affiliated with First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University and other places

Background To evaluate the relationship between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection at different time points during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. Methods This retrospective study included 611 women who hospitalized for delivery between December 7 and April 30, 2023. Based on the different pregnancy weeks infected with COVID-19, the participants were divided into four groups: Group 1 (14–27⁺⁶ weeks gestation), Group 2 (28–36⁺⁶ weeks gestation), Group 3 (37–39⁺⁶ weeks gestation), and Group 4 (≥ 40 weeks gestation). Data including maternal demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and perinatal outcomes were analyzed. Results There were no significant differences in maternal demographic characteristics among the four groups (P > 0.05). Compared to Groups 3 and 4, a higher rate of fever was noted in Groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). The frequency of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus showed a decreasing trend as pregnancy progressing (P < 0.05). Preterm delivery and neonatal intensive care unit admission were more frequently observed in Groups 1 and 2 than in Groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the timing of gestation in which COVID-19 was infected was not associated with preterm delivery and neonatal intensive care unit admission (P > 0.05), whereas gestational age at COVID-19 infection was negatively associated with the occurrence of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05). Conclusions Gestational age at COVID-19 infection is a simple parameter that predicts adverse perinatal outcomes to aid clinicians in determining to provide early enhanced prenatal care and increased monitoring to reduce maternal complications.

Objective: To identify whether infection, cervical laceration and perineal laceration are associated with postpartum hemorrhage in the setting of vaginal delivery induced by Cook balloon catheter. Materials and methods: The retrospective study included 362 women who gave birth vaginally at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation with a diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage between February 2021 to May 2022, of which including 216 women with induction of labor (Cook balloon catheter followed by oxytocin or oxytocin) and 146 women with spontaneous delivery. Risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage were collected and compared. Results: 362 women were divided into three groups, group 1 with spontaneous delivery, group 2 with oxytocin, group 3 with Cook balloon catheter followed by oxytocin. There was no significant difference in incidence of infection within three groups (P > 0.05). The rate of cervical laceration and perineal laceration was significantly higher in group 3 compared with groups 2 and 1 (P < 0.05); Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that compared with group 1, either group 3 or group 2 was associated with increased risks of cervical laceration and perineal laceration (P < 0.05), and compared with group 2, group 3 was not associated with increased risks of cervical laceration and perineal laceration (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Infection, cervical laceration and perineal laceration are identified not to be independent risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage for women undergoing labor with Cook balloon catheter; Cervical laceration and perineal laceration increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage in women with labor induction.

Objective To identify the factors affecting expectant management of early-onset preeclampsia, and evaluate the correlation between expectant treatment and foetal growth restriction. Materials and Methods The retrospective study included 72 women who were admitted for early-onset preeclampsia between February 2018 to April 2021. Data included maternal clinical parameters, demographic and maternal and neonatal outcomes, which were analysed for correlation. Results Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the time interval from the onset of 24-h proteinuria to termination of pregnancy showed a strong correlation with the expectant treatment; Univariate logistic analysis confirmed that there was no correlation between expectant treatment and foetal growth restriction. Conclusion There was a negative correlation between the duration of 24-h proteinuria and the expectant treatment of patients with early-onset preeclampsia; Expectant treatment could not improve the development of foetal growth restriction in patients with early-onset preeclampsia. KEY MESSAGES The duration of 24-h proteinuria affects the effectiveness of expectant management of early-onset preeclampsia. Expectant management can reduce adverse neonatal outcomes due to iatrogenic preterm delivery, but it cannot improve the occurrence of foetal growth restriction.