Antiviral medication use in a cohort of pregnant women during the 2009–2010 influenza pandemic

Abstract

Preventing influenza-like illness (ILI) during pregnancy with antiviral medication use (AVMU) can mitigate serious health risks to mother and foetus. We report on AVMU in pregnant women in Ontario, Canada, and describe characteristics of AVMU during the 2009–2010 H1N1 pandemic. Rates and risk estimates of AVMU were compared across multiple categories and stratified across ILI infection status. Increased AVMU was observed in women with influenza infections, active smokers, those vaccinated against influenza, and those with pre-existing co-morbidities. Decreased AVMU was observed in women with multiple gestations, and those in neighbourhoods of high immigrant concentrations. Our stratified analysis indicated that the observed patterns differed by ILI infection status. We demonstrated that once infected, women across multiple groups were equally likely to use antiviral medications. In this report we also propose possible clinical explanations for the observed differences in AVMU, which will be useful in planning prevention initiatives for future pandemics.

Keywords::

• Antiviral
• antiviral medication
• H1N1
• Influenza
• pregnant women
• pregnancy

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant 218653). Financial assistance for the H1N1 data collection was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada as part of the public health response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. We are grateful to the health care providers and hospital staff in Ontario hospitals who collected these data.

Funding

Funding provided by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) [grant 218653].

Statement of prior posting

The authors declare that the information presented within this report has not been posted in any previous publication(s) and/or presentations.

Declaration of interest: The authors declared no conflict of interest, and have each independently completed a conflict of interest disclosure form.

Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Tables I–II available online at http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/01443615.2014.978846.