Maternal and prenatal outcomes of hemochromatosis in pregnancy: A population-based study

Abstract

Background: This retrospective study investigated the impact of hemochromatosis on maternal and perinatal outcomes among delivery hospitalizations in the United States between 2010 and 2019, revealing notable trends and associations.

Methods: Utilizing data from over 36 million delivery hospitalizations, we conducted a comprehensive analysis, focusing on maternal complications, perinatal outcomes, and healthcare utilization among women with hemochromatosis compared to those without.

Results: Women with hemochromatosis exhibited a longer length of hospital stay (3.27 ± 0.20 days vs. 2.64 ± 0.04 days) and higher total hospital charges ($21,789.66 ± $1124.41 vs. $17,751.63 ± $97.71) compared to those without the condition. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of hemochromatosis among delivery hospitalizations over the studied period, from 1.91 per 100,000 hospitalizations to 8.65 cases per 100,000 hospitalizations. Hemochromatosis patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR: 1.50, 95 % CI: 1.03-2.19) and VTE(aOR: 20.35, 95 % CI: 5.05-82.05).There were no statistically significant differences in rates of peripartum hemorrhage, C-section, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, large for gestational age infants, and fetal death between the two groups.

Conclusions: Our findings underscore higher hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and VTE among women with hemochromatosis, despite unaffected perinatal outcomes. An increasing trend in hemochromatosis prevalence highlights the need for targeted interventions and cost-effective management strategies. Future research is needed to explore potential racial disparities and understand the rising incidence of hemochromatosis among pregnant women.

Keywords: Hemochromatosis; Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; Pregnancy; Prenatal outcomes; Rising incidence.