Pregnancy 'increases critical illness risk' in women with swine flu
By Stephen Robinson, 19 March 2010
Women with swine flu are much more likely to suffer critical illness if they are pregnant, research suggests.
Women in Australia and New Zealand were 13 times more likely to be hospitalised if they were more than 20 weeks pregnant, a BMJ study found.
Results showed that 11% of mothers and 12% of babies died as a result of being admitted to intensive care with swine flu. Of 64 pregnant women admitted to hospital with swine flu, 44 (68.7%) of the women had to be put on ventilators to assist with breathing. Nine of these women (14.1%) needed further assistance to help oxygen reach their heart and lungs.
Authors identified the small numbers included in their research as a limitation to the study.
But they said the research is in line with existing data that show pregnant women are at a higher risk of developing influenza complications.
The authors highlight the fact that none of the women in the study had been immunised against seasonal flu, despite recommendations that pregnant women should be immunised.
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Salaried/Lead GPs Malling Health Competitive, role dependant, NHS Pension and defence fees reimbursed, Nationwide
- Salaried GP The Practice plc £75-85k FTE +NHS pension, Ely or Leicester
- Regional Clinical Leads The Practice plc Salary £95-105k FTE + NHS pension, Leicester or Sheffield
- Salaried GP St Peter's Hill Surgery Competitive, Grantham, Lincolnshire
- GP Locum - Cambridgeshire - March, Kings Lynn, Peterborough Agenda Medical Locums up to £650.00 per day, March, Cambridgeshire, South East England
- Salaried Single Handed GP, Kent, 8-9 Sessions per week + PDP, up to £90k + NHS Pension + MDU + PDP Global Medics Permanent UK Salary up to £90k for up to 9 sessions + NHS Pension + MDU + PDP, South East England, Kent
Most read
- Health secretary says GPs have 'ethical duty' to save NHS costs
- NHS Commissioning Board chairman rebuked for 'golf-playing GPs' jibe
- Government department sessions (where BMA 'Treasury rate' is accepted)
- GPs face 'outcomes targets overload', patient group warns
- DH could face legal challenge over risk register veto
- NICE to develop multimorbidity guidelines for GPs
Most commented
MIMS Drug Search
Possible searches include drugs (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases and more.
