The Operating Theatre Journal September 2021

INTS2022
BERLIN
GERMANY
© Marco2811 - Fotolia.com
15 th International
Neurotrauma Symposium
Improving lives after neurotrauma through research
17–20 July 2022
Pre-symposium-courses scheduled for 17 July
www.neurotrauma2022.com
‘Long-awaited’ research into effects of long-term health
conditions on expectant mums and their babies underway
The impact of having more than one long-term health condition on
pregnant mothers and their babies is to be investigated by researchers
at the University of Aberdeen.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have awarded the Aberdeen team
more than £185,000 to investigate the long-term health outcomes for
mothers and their babies with a view to improving maternity and postnatal
care.
Living with two or more health conditions is becoming increasingly
common in pregnant women with one in five pregnant women having
two or more active long-term physical or mental health conditions such
as diabetes or depression.
Managing these health needs can often mean women are taking several
medications and the impact of this is unknown. This is the first large
study to investigate these issues.
Using routinely collected datasets from across the UK, this study
will investigate how pregnancy and long-term health outcomes vary
according to combinations of medications taken during pregnancy,
specific combinations of health conditions and also by specific
pregnancy complications and their impact on health in later life.
Due to start early September, the large collaboration led by the University
of Birmingham, will see key sub-projects co-led by researchers at the
University of Aberdeen, seven further universities, and NHS Trusts
across the UK. The research is being funded via the £20m Strategic
Priorities Fund (SPF) Tackling Multimorbidity at Scale programme. The
programme is delivered by UKRI’s Medical Research Council, with the
Economic and Social Research Council and the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council, also part of UKRI. It is jointly funded by
the government’s Department of Health and Social Care through the
National Institute of Health Research.
Dr Mairead Black Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics at the University of
Aberdeen and Consultant Obstetrician at NHS Grampian who is coleading
the Aberdeen side of the project alongside Professor Louise
Locock, explains: “We know that pregnant people with more than one
long-term health condition are disproportionately affected by severe
illness and even death during or shortly after pregnancy.
“We also know that maternity care systems can be difficult to navigate
for these people.
“Without deeper understanding of the problem, women with several
long-term health conditions may not have the best and safest experience
of care before, during and after pregnancy because services have not
been designed with their health needs in mind.
“The UK national body that reports on maternal deaths (MBRRACE) has
been calling for research of this nature for many years so with this
large-scale collaboration we look forward to addressing the challenges
that are increasingly affecting new and expectant mothers.”
Prior to this study, research into the impact of long-term health
conditions in pregnancy has focused on those people with single health
conditions. This is the first large study to assess these issues in those
affected by more than one long-term health condition.
Professor Krish Nirantharakumar, of the University of Birmingham and
Principal Investigator of the study said: “Having two or more health
conditions is becoming more common in pregnant women as women are
increasingly older when they start having a family and as obesity and
mental health conditions are on the rise in general.
“However, we don’t really understand what the consequences are of
multiple health conditions or medications for mothers and babies.
“This can make pregnancy, healthcare and managing medications more
complicated. Without deeper understanding of the problem, women
with several long-term health conditions may not have the best and
safest experience of care before, during and after pregnancy because
services have not been designed with their health needs in mind.”
Dr Black continues: “Our novel multidisciplinary approach will allow
future care to be tailored to women’s needs, from the early pregnancy
stage through the maternity journey to their long-term healthcare.
“This long-awaited project will also identify important time points
to target with future care improvements to prevent pregnancy
complications and long-term health conditions in women after
pregnancy. We will produce recommendations on how to plan and
design services that meet the needs of women and their families
before, during and after pregnancy.”
Find out more 02921 680068 • e-mail admin@lawrand.com Issue 372 September 2021 9