AB1295-HPR PREGNANCY RISK IN CHILDBEARING AGE WOMEN WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Authors: E. Barriga-Maldonado, C. M. Skinner Taylor, L. Pérez Barbosa, J. D. Ángulo, F. Vázquez, G. Figueroa-Parra, R. Pineda-Sic, J. C. Riegatorres, D. Á. Galarza-Delgado
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Rheumatic diseases (RD) are more frequent in women, affecting them during childbearing age. Medications used to treat can interfere with fertility or increase the risk of miscarriages and congenital abnormalities; Disease control and therapy should be discussed with patients before and during pregnancy, in order to minimize adverse outcome (1). Barriers to adequate communication and counseling of women regarding reproductive health and family planning still exist among rheumatologists and increases the risk of complications(2). Objectives: To identify childbearing age women with RD and a high risk of pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in the rheumatology clinic of the university hospital “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez” in Monterrey, Mexico between October 2019 and January 2020. All non-pregnant childbearing age (18 to 45 years old) women any were included. A self-questionnaire of 10-items was applied. Demographic, data were collected from the electronic medical record. Results are shown in descriptive statistics. Analyses were performed with SPSS 22. A p&lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 135 women were evaluated, median age was 33 (25-39) years. Patients characteristics are shown in table 1. 115 (85.1%) had initiated sexual activity earlier in life (median age 18 years). Regarding the question, did you have sex last month? 115 answered it, 69 (60%) said they had, 49 (42.6%) used a contraceptive and 20 (28.9%) did not. 135 patients, 68 (50.3%) had a desire for pregnancy, 12 (17.6%) in the next 12 months and 56 (82.3%) in more than one year, of which 37 (66%) were using a family planning method and 19 (34%) were not (Table 2). For the question about receiving contraceptional counselling 112 answered it, 80 (70.4%) say they had. When they were asked if they received family planning and reproductive health counseling by their rheumatologist, just 64 (57.1%) affirmed they did; There was no differences in the use of contraceptive methods among those who received contraceptive counselling and those who did not (p&gt;0.05). Among the 67 (49.6%) patients who did not want to be pregnancy 16 (23.8%) did not use a contraceptive method. Table 1. Chracteristics n=135 Age , years, median (IQR ) 33 (25-39) Marital status n (% ) Single 58(42.9) Unmarried 19 (14.1) Married 49 (36.3) Divorced 9 (6.7) Education n (% ) None 12 (8.9) Elementary school 17 (12.6) High school 77 (57.0) University 28 (20.7) Diagnosis n (% ) Rheumatoid arthritis 63 (46.7) Systemic lupus erythematosus 39 (28.9) Other autoimmune diseases 32 (24.3) Onset of Sexual activity age, median (IQR ) 18 (16-20) Onset of Sexual activity?, n (% ) Yes 115 (85.1) Table 2. Tool questions n=135 (% Did you have sex last month? ( n= 115, % ) 69 (60) Yes Did you use any contraceptive method? (n=115, % ) Yes 49(42.6) Did you receive family planning and reproductive health counseling by the rheumatologist? ( n= 112, % ) Yes 64 (57.1) Do you want to get pregnant after the next 12 months? Yes 56 (41.1) Do you want to get pregnant in the next 12 months? Yes 12 (8.9) Contraceptional counselling (n=112, % ) Yes 80 (71.4) Current treatment ( n= 107, % ) Pregnancy Risk 65 (60.7) Conclusion: Using this short questionnaire, we identified that 35 (25.9%) of the patients had a risk of unintended pregnancy and that only 80 (70.4%) received reproductive health counseling from their rheumatologist. It is necessary to design and systematically apply questionnaires capable of detecting and evaluating risks in this population. References: [1]Gayed, M., &amp; Gordon, C. (2007). Pregnancy and rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology, 46(11), 1634-1640. [2]Birru Talabi, M., Clowse, M. E., Blalock, S. J., Hamm, M., &amp; Borrero, S. (2019). Perspectives of Adult Rheumatologists Regarding Family Planning Counseling and Care: A Qualitative Study. Arthritis Care &amp; Research. Figure 1. Graphs 1. Graphs 2. Disclosure of Interests: None declared