Session Information
Date: Monday, November 8, 2021
Title: Patient Outcomes, Preferences, & Attitudes Poster III: Patient Preferences (1153–1169)
Session Type: Poster Session C
Session Time: 8:30AM-10:30AM
Background/Purpose: Recent European research on patients with chronic rheumatic diseases (CRDs) revealed that women of childbearing age (WoCBA) have many fears and misconceptions about their journey to the motherhood. It is critical for patients to obtain accurate information around their disease management. However, there is limited related research in China. This study aimed to understand pregnancy experiences and unmet needs for WoCBA with CRD in China.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to a sample of WoCBA (18-49 years old) drawn from the Chinese Rheumatism Data Center 2019 with physician-diagnosed as moderate or severe CRD (RA AS and PsA). This study was approved by Ethics Committee of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
Results: Total 1037 WoCBA patients were involved. 157 patients were diagnosed with CRD before pregnancy. Of which 110 and 30 patients took csDMARDs and bDMARDs (TNFi) before the index pregnancy, respectively. During their whole pregnancy, 74 (67.27%) and 26 (86.67%) patients discontinued medications completely, respectively (Table 1). The most common reason for stopping medication was that patients were concerned about the adverse effect of medications on their fetus. Of all the 157 patients, 34 and 99 patients reported that the symptoms worsened during pregnancy and postpartum respectively. Of 157 patients, 19.11% reported that they received inconsistent medication advice from rheumatologists and obstetricians during pregnancy, and 17.83% did not receive any advice.
Conclusion: Our survey indicates that women with CRDs have a wide range of unmet information and needs in relation to pregnancy in China. There is a strong need to reach a multi-disciplinary consensus on treatment recommendations to ensure that WoCBA can obtain consistent advice through all their journey to motherhood.
Medication discontinuation and changes in disease severity during pregnancy and postpartum
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
tian x, fang y. Pregnancy Experiences and Unmet Needs for Women of Childbearing Age with Chronic Rheumatic Disease in China [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021; 73 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/pregnancy-experiences-and-unmet-needs-for-women-of-childbearing-age-with-chronic-rheumatic-disease-in-china/. Accessed .« Back to ACR Convergence 2021
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/pregnancy-experiences-and-unmet-needs-for-women-of-childbearing-age-with-chronic-rheumatic-disease-in-china/