A recent study reveals that common infertility treatments, like Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), may lead to a higher risk of in-hospital complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study analyzed data comparing pregnancies conceived with and without ART and found that ART was independently linked to increased risks of arrhythmia and acute kidney injury after adjusting for factors like age and pre-existing health conditions.
Lead investigator, Dr. Pensée Wu, senior lecturer and consultant obstetrician at Keele University, was surprised by the findings, which suggest that ART itself, not just factors like age or pre-existing health conditions, could increase the risk of complications. She emphasized that ART’s role in these risks was unexpected, especially in cases that did not involve older women or those with known health issues.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, aims to fill knowledge gaps about in-hospital complications after ART pregnancies. Dr. Wu and her team conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the US National Inpatient Sample database, which included over 7 million deliveries from 2008 to 2016. Among them, about 106,000 were conceived through ART.
Researchers adjusted for several factors, including age, income, race, and cardiovascular risk, and found that ART pregnancies were linked to higher risks of complications. Specifically, they found that ART-conceived pregnancies had 1.7 times the risk of arrhythmia and 2.5 times the risk of acute kidney injury compared to natural pregnancies.
Further analysis revealed that ART pregnancies were also more likely to result in adverse outcomes such as placental abruption, cesarean delivery, and preterm birth. Additionally, these pregnancies came with a higher hospital bill, averaging $18,705 compared to $11,983 for non-ART pregnancies.
Over the study period, the proportion of ART pregnancies grew, from 0.05% in 2008 to 0.51% in 2016. Women using ART were typically older (average age 35 vs. 28), more likely to be White, and more likely to belong to the wealthiest income quartile.
Dr. Wu stresses the importance of counseling patients, especially those with existing cardiovascular risk factors, about the potential long-term cardiovascular implications of ART. She encourages healthcare providers to ensure these risks are clearly communicated and that strategies for managing them are put in place.
In conclusion, while ART offers a valuable solution for infertility, the study highlights the need for careful monitoring and risk management during pregnancy and delivery. Women considering ART should be informed about the increased risks and prepare accordingly for a healthier pregnancy outcome.
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