Objectives Healthcare provider focus often rests solely on a pregnant woman, while a woman's partner may prove to be an ally in a pregnant woman's health behaviors. The objective of this study is to assess the role of partner support and other demographic factors affecting alcohol and drug use in pregnancy. Methods This cross-sectional cohort study at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital evaluated pregnant women and their partners and obtained sociodemographic information, medical history, tobacco and alcohol use, and results from the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire (NSSQ). Inclusion criteria were pregnant women 18-44 years old, and English fluency. Subjects without support persons were excluded. Results 198 women were evaluated. Women who reported having a partner were less likely to smoke and drink, as 2.8 % of partnered women smoked and 26 % drank, compared with 12.2 % non-partnered women smoked (p = 0.01), and 42 % drank alcohol (p = 0.07). Significant factors positively influencing the NSSQ included being married, increased household income, and higher education (p < 0.001). On multivariate regression, having a partner and higher income level were the most important predictors of the Social Support Score (p < 0.05). Conclusions for Practice Having a partner during pregnancy is an important factor in alcohol and drug use. Patients with a reliable partner were less likely to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol in pregnancy. Increased income and relationship status are other important factors for the support of pregnant women.

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ObjectiveDistinguishing aortitis‐induced aneurysms from noninflammatory aortic aneurysms is difficult and often incidentally diagnosed on histologic examination after surgical repair. This study was undertaken to examine surgically diagnosed aortitis and identify patient characteristics and imaging findings associated with the disease.MethodsIn this case–control study, cases had newly diagnosed, biopsy‐proven noninfectious aortitis after open thoracic aortic aneurysm surgical repair. Five controls were matched with cases for year of surgery and lacked significant inflammation on surgical pathology analysis. Data on comorbidities, demographic characteristics, and laboratory and imaging abnormalities prior to surgery were collected. Associations between exposures and outcomes were evaluated using conditional logistic regression. Backward stepwise logistic regression was used to determine factors independently associated with aortitis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95%confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated.ResultsThe study included 262 patients (43 patients with aortitis and 219 controls). Patients with aortitis were older at the time of surgery, predominantly female, and less likely to have a history of coronary artery disease (CAD). Multivariable analysis revealed that aortitis was independently associated with an older age at the time of surgery (OR 1.08 [95%CI 1.03–1.13], P < 0.01), female sex (OR 2.36 [95%CI 1.01–5.51], P = 0.04), absence of CAD (OR 6.92 [95%CI 2.14–22.34], P = 0.04), a larger aneurysm diameter (OR 1.74 [95%CI 1.02–2.98], P = 0.04), and arterial wall thickening on imaging (OR 56.93 [95%CI 4.31–752.33], P < 0.01).ConclusionAmong patients who undergo open surgical repair of an aortic aneurysm, elderly women with no history of CAD who have evidence of other aortic or arterial wall thickening on imaging are more likely to have histologic evidence of aortitis. Patients with these characteristics may benefit from further rheumatologic evaluation.

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