Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is of particular concern during pregnancy when not one, but two lives are at risk. Previous meta-analyses have suggested an association between IPV and adverse birth outcomes; however, many large studies have since been published, illustrating the need for updated pooled effect estimates.Objectives To evaluate the relationship between IPV during pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth (PTB), low-birthweight (LBW), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants.Search strategy We searched PubMed and SCOPUS (from inception until May 2015), and the reference lists of the relevant studies.Selection criteria Observational studies comparing the rates of at least one adverse birth outcome (SGA, LBW, or PTB) in women who experienced IPV during pregnancy and those who did not.Data collection and analysis Data extracted from 50 studies were pooled and pooled odds ratios were calculated using randomeffects models.Main results Intimate partner violence (IPV) was significantly associated with PTB (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.60-2.29) and LBW (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.68-2.65), although a large level of heterogeneity was present for both (I 2 = 84 and 91%, respectively).The association with SGA was less pronounced and marginally significant (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.84), although fewer studies were available for meta-analysis (n = 7).Conclusions Our meta-analysis indicates that women who experienced IPV during pregnancy are at increased risk of having a PTB, and an LBW or an SGA infant. More studies examining the association between IPV and SGA are needed.Keywords Domestic violence, low birthweight, partner abuse, premature, small for gestational age.Tweetable Abstract Meta-analysis of IPV during pregnancy finds increased risk for preterm birth, LBW and SGA infants.

BackgroundAutoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) often affect women of childbearing age and have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Most of the literature on the impact of ARDs on birth outcomes to date has focused on the burden of common ARDs (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)) within Caucasian populations. The effect of race/ethnicity on birth outcomes among women with ARDs is not well understood. Identification of groups who are at highest risk of adverse birth outcomes may aid in increased prenatal surveillance and prevention of maternal and fetal morbidity.ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of ARD on adverse birth outcomes, specifically preterm birth (PTB), congenital anomalies, and low birth weight (LBW), in a large, ethnically diverse cohort.MethodsWe conducted a matched cohort analysis of retrospective data from all singleton live births in California occurring between 2007 and 2012. Data on ARD diagnosis, including RA, SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and birth outcomes were derived from birth certificate records linked to hospital/discharge ICD9 codes present anytime at or one year prior to delivery. Women without any of the previously mentioned rheumatic diseases were age- and ethnicity-matched in 2:1 ratio to women with ARD; their characteristics were compared using conditional logistic regression. We also examined the association between specific ARD diagnoses and birth outcomes stratified by race/ethnicity.ResultsWe identified 10 975 women with a recorded ARD diagnosis (RA: 3129 (26%), SLE: 3863 (33%), APS: 4180 (35%), PsA: 173 (2%), AS: 144 (1%), and JIA: 354 (3%)). The odds of PTB were increased for women with any ARD (aOR 1.90 (95% CI 1.76–2.05)) and among those with RA (aOR 1.65 (95% CI 1.47–1.85)), SLE (aOR 2.25 (95% CI 2.05–2.47)), APS (aOR 1.82 (95% CI 1.64–2.01)), and JIA (aOR 1.76 (95% CI 1.32–2.35)) compared to women without ARD. After stratifying by race/ethnicity, the odds of PTB and congenital anomalies were highest among Asian women and the odds of LBW were highest among Hispanic women compared to other race/ethnicity-matched controls (table 1). Further sub-analyses revealed that it was predominantly women with SLE who were contributing to the adverse outcomes seen in the combined ARD group.Abstract THU0675 – Table 1Odd of adverse birth outcomes among women with autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) compared with women without a recorded ARD by race/ethnicity.ConclusionsConsistent with prior literature, we found that women with ARDs tend to be more likely to have PTB and infants of LBW. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date to analyse these associations in Asian women. Our results suggest that Asian and Hispanic women with ARDs may disproportionally benefit from additional monitoring throughout pregnancy. Our study raises the need for public health initiatives that can help improve pregnancy outcomes in women with autoimmune rheum...