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Nurses poster presentations: Nurses poster presentations 2020

N11 Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A single-centre experience

Y. BAILEY, C. Hanna, A. O’Connor, N. Breslin, B. Ryan, D. McNamara

Tallaght University Hospital, Gastroenterology, Dublin 24, Ireland

Background

This study aimed to examine the current management and outcomes in pregnancy in our cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods

Following ethical approval patients with at least one pregnancy with known Crohn’s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC) were identified. Using a self-assessment questionnaire basic demographic, clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were recorded.

Results

Eighty-five patients were recruited between January and October 2019; 38 CD, 26 UC and 1 Indeterminate (ID). The mean age was 28.6 years (range 14–46 years) at diagnosis. In total there were 199 pregnancies: 168 live births, 2 stillbirths (1%); lower than the national rate of 3.0 per 1000 and 29 miscarriages (14.5%) compared with national rates of 1 in 5. The majority attended routine combined GP and maternity services, only 17 (20%) attended a specific high-risk maternity clinic. Biologic usage was similar pre and during pregnancy; 16 (22%), 11 (16%) with a slight increase post pregnancy 19 (30%). Overall 26% continued to smoke and 7% drank alcohol during their pregnancy. The total of reported flares were less frequent during pregnancy 45% (n = 35) vs. pre-partum 61% (n = 47) and post-partum 79% (n = 61), p = 0.021. In all there were 138 vaginal deliveries and 32 (19%) caesarean sections (CS). CS rates did not differ by disease type, UC 9/26 & CD 26/58, p = 0.4 There were 12 (7%) preterm deliveries 3 of which had low birth weights. 2 congenital abnormalities 1 % (cleft palate and spina bifida) lower that the national rate of 2–3% of live births and 14–24% of stillbirths, were recorded. Breast feeding rates were reported at 34% (n = 28), significantly lower than the national average rate of 46.3%. 81% of patients reported having had a recent smear test and 18% reported an abnormal smear. Seventy per cent of patients who reported having an abnormal smear were on immunosuppressant therapy.

Conclusion

The results from our ongoing study have found less disease activity during pregnancy possibly associated with continued use of biological therapy. However, there were higher rate of flares reported post-partum possibly related loss to immune tolerance developed during pregnancy, or lifestyle and environmental factors. Despite not attending a specific IBD pregnancy service outcomes in our cohort were good with lower than National average rates of miscarriage, stillbirths and congenital abnormalities. Worryingly rates of over a quarter of patients continued to smoke during pregnancy and only a third of patients breastfed; factors which could be targets for future education. High rate of abnormal smear tests, low rate of HPV vaccination warrants further research.