Inflammatory bowel disease increases risk for pregnant women: Study

Pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease and their unborn infants face higher risks and complications than pregnant women without IBD. These are the findings of a recent study that looked at the outcomes of over 8 million pregnancies.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine led the study, and the results were published in the journal International Journal of Colorectal Disease. IBD refers to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which cause chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal system. IBD mostly affects young people, including women in their reproductive years.

“IBD is an incurable disease, and its relapsing and remitting nature is stressful for the estimated 3 million U.S. men and women diagnosed,” said senior author Yezaz Ghouri, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine. “Because this disease tends to affect women during their peak fertility period, we wanted to know the impact of IBD on maternal and fetal outcomes. To our knowledge, this study is the most comprehensive of its kind, using data from multiple institutions in 48 states.”

Between 2016 and 2018, the study team examined almost 8 million pregnancies. 14129 of them moms had IBD. Pregnant women with IBD had a greater incidence of gestational diabetes, postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive problems, preterm birth, foetal growth limitation, and foetal mortality, according to the findings. Pregnant women with IBD experienced lengthier hospital stays after giving birth. They spent an extra half-day in the hospital and had to pay more than $2,700 in medical bills.

“Based on our findings, we suggest that women who have moderate to severe IBD should get pre-conceptional counseling and be treated aggressively to achieve remission prior to getting pregnant,” Ghouri said. “Our study results illustrate the importance that IBD be optimally controlled prior to conception.”