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Characteristics and in‐hospital outcomes of patients requiring aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy, compared to non‐retrieved metropolitan cohorts
Author(s) -
Gardiner Fergus W.,
Richardson Alice,
Roxburgh Carly,
Gillam Marianne,
Churilov Leonid,
McCuaig Ruth,
Carter Sean,
Arthur Christopher,
Wong Cynthia,
Morton Adam,
Callaway Leonie,
Lust Karin,
Davidson Sarah J.,
Foxcroft Katie,
Oates Kiri,
Zhang Lucy,
Jayawardane Sahani,
Coleman Mathew,
Peek Michael
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/ajo.13308
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , caesarean section , obstetrics , gestational age , gestation , cohort , overweight , pediatrics , obesity , genetics , biology
Background Limited access to obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) services in rural and remote Australia is believed to contribute to suboptimal birth outcomes. Aims To describe the characteristics of pregnancy aeromedical transfers, in‐hospital outcomes, and patient access to O&G services, as compared to whole of Australia data. Materials and methods We conducted a cohort study of women who required aeromedical retrieval for pregnancy‐related issues between the 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017. Results Hospital outcome data were collected on 2171 (65.2%) mothers and 2438 (100.0%) babies. The leading retrieval reason was threatened preterm labour and delivery ( n = 883; 40.7%). Most patients were retrieved from rural and remote areas ( n = 2224; 93.0%). Retrieved patients were significantly younger (28.0 vs 30.0 years, 95% CI 27.7–28.3), more likely to be overweight or obese (52.2% vs 45.1%, 95% CI 47.5–56.9) and to have smoked during their pregnancy (14.0% vs 9.9%, 95% CI 12.5–15.5) compared to Australian pregnant women overall. Over one‐third of transferred women gave birth by Caesarean section ( n = 812; 37.4%); the median gestational age at birth was 33.0 (95% CI 32.7–33.3) weeks. Early gestation is associated with low birth weights (median = 2579.5 g; 95% CI 2536.1–2622.9), neonatal resuscitation (35.4%, 95% CI 33.5–37.3), and special care nursery admission (41.2%, 95% CI 39.3–43.2). There were 42 (1.7%, 95% CI 1.2–2.2) stillbirths, which was significantly higher than seen Australia‐wide ( n = 6441; 0.7%). Conclusion This study found that pregnant women retrieved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service were younger, with higher rates of obesity and smoking.