Prevalence of autoimmune conditions in pregnant women in a tertiary maternity hospital: A cross-sectional survey and maternity database review.

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune conditions are associated with adverse pregnancy and offspring outcomes; however, the prevalence in pregnant women is not well understood. Estimates based on administrative data alone may underestimate prevalence.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of women attending a tertiary referral hospital for antenatal care in December 2018-February 2019 and review of the hospital's maternity database of women giving birth from October 2017-June 2018 to estimate autoimmune disease prevalence.

RESULTS

A total of 400 women completed surveys (78% response rate) and 41 (10.3%) reported an autoimmune disease, most commonly Hashimoto's thyroiditis (2.8%) and psoriasis (2.5%). From the maternity database, 112 of 2756 women giving birth (4.1%) had a recorded autoimmune disease, most commonly Hashimoto's thyroiditis (1.3%) followed by coeliac disease, Graves' disease, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (all 0.4%).

CONCLUSION

Autoimmune disease prevalence in pregnant women is higher when self-reported and may be more common than previously reported using administrative data.