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Influenza A/H1N1 (2009) infection in pregnancy—an Asian perspective

  1. ML Lim1,
  2. CY Chong2,
  3. WSN Tee3,
  4. WY Lim1,
  5. JJ Chee1

Article first published online: 10 FEB 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02522.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 117, Issue 5, pages 551–556, April 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lim, M., Chong, C., Tee, W., Lim, W. and Chee, J. (2010), Influenza A/H1N1 (2009) infection in pregnancy—an Asian perspective. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117: 551–556. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02522.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Maternal–Fetal Medicine

  2. 2

    Department of Paediatric Medicine & Infectious Disease Service

  3. 3

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital, Singapore

*Dr ML Lim, Department of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899. Email lim.may.li@kkh.com.sg

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 MAR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 10 FEB 2010
  3. Accepted 16 January 2010. Published Online 10 February 2010.

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Keywords:

  • H1N1;
  • influenza;
  • pregnancy

Please cite this paper as: Lim M, Chong C, Tee W, Lim W, Chee J. Influenza A/H1N1 (2009) infection in pregnancy—an Asian perspective. BJOG 2010;117:551–556.

Objective  To describe the characteristics of an obstetric population with influenza A/H1N1 (2009) infection, with a focus on the need for hospitalisation and complications.

Design  Cohort study.

Setting  Tertiary referral centre.

Population  Two hundred and eleven pregnant women with influenza A/H1N1 (2009) infection diagnosed by nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Methods  Obstetric patients presenting to our centre were recruited and followed up. Data collected included demographic and clinical information.

Main outcome measures  H1N1 and pregnancy complications, and hospitalisation needs.

Results  The median age of the cohort was 29.0 years (range 16–42 years), the median gestation at referral was 23.0 weeks (range 4–38 weeks), the median time interval between illness onset and presentation was 2.0 days (range 1–7 days), and the median time interval between illness onset and commencement of oseltamivir was 2.0 days (range 1–11 days). Hospital admission was significantly associated with the presence of co-morbidity (OR 4.14, 95% CI 1.82–9.37, P = 0.0001), breathlessness (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.19–12.41, P = 0.0003) and sore throat (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.16–0.73, P = 0.005). There were two cases of pneumonia complicating H1N1 infection, but no mortality. Nine cases developed pregnancy complications. All women recovered.

Conclusions  The need for hospitalisation was significantly associated with breathlessness and co-morbidity. There was minimal morbidity and no mortality observed. We attribute this to early presentation, diagnosis and treatment.

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