https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8801-572X
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Abstract
Background
Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women and have been linked to increased risk of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of autoimmune disease among pregnant women and women of reproductive age (WRA), which is not well described.
Materials and methods
A population-based study was conducted using data from a survey of general practitioner (GP) encounters and state-wide hospital admissions in New South Wales (NSW). A list of 29 conditions and relevant diagnosis codes was used to identify autoimmune disease. Prevalence estimates and trends were calculated using population denominators for GP encounters for WRA in 2011–2015 and hospital admissions for WRA and pregnant women in 2013–2017.
Results
A total 31,065 GP encounters for WRA were identified and 607 (2.0%) reported an autoimmune disease, equivalent to 1.1 GP encounters per 10 WRA each year when extrapolating to NSW population figures. For WRA admitted to hospital, 2.6% had an autoimmune diagnosis recorded each year equivalent to a population prevalence of 0.5%. A total 477,243 births were identified, of which 4230 mothers (0.9%) had at least one autoimmune disease recorded during a 1-year pregnancy lookback period. Autoimmune disease prevalence among both pregnant women and WRA either attending GP or hospital increased, on average, 2–4% per year over the study period.
Conclusions
A small, but potentially growing proportion of reproductive age and pregnant women have a diagnosed autoimmune disease, and this may impact their health outcomes.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the technical assistance and input of our colleagues Jane Bell and Graeme Miller.
Disclosure statement
The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
