Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to provide information on the prevalence of the use
of prescription drugs among pregnant women in the United States.
Study design
A retrospective study was conducted with the use of the automated databases of 8 health
maintenance organizations that are involved in the Health Maintenance Research Network
Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics. Women who delivered of an infant
in a hospital from January 1, 1996, through December 31, 2000, were identified. Prescription
drug use according to therapeutic class and the United States Food and Drug Administration
risk classification system was evaluated, with the assumption of a gestational duration
of 270 days, with three 90-day trimesters of pregnancy, and with a 90-day period before
pregnancy. Nonprescription drug use was not assessed.
Results
During the period 1996 through 2000, 152,531 deliveries were identified that met the
criteria for study. For 98,182 deliveries (64%), a drug other than a vitamin or mineral
supplement was prescribed in the 270 days before delivery: 3595 women (2.4%) received
a drug from category A; 76,292 women (50.0%) received a drug from category B; 57,604
women (37.8%) received a drug from category C; 7333 women (4.8%) received a drug from
category D, and 6976 women (4.6%) received a drug from category X of the United States
Food and Drug Administration risk classification system. Overall, 5157 women (3.4%)
received a category D drug, and 1653 women (1.1%) received a category X drug after
the initial prenatal care visit.
Conclusion
Our finding that almost one half of all pregnant women received prescription drugs
from categories C, D, or X of the United States Food and Drug Administration risk
classification system highlights the importance of the need to understand the effects
of these medications on the developing fetus and on the pregnant woman.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
April 21,
2004
Received in revised form:
April 1,
2004
Received:
October 29,
2003
Footnotes
☆Supported by grant HS10391 from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to The HMO Research Network Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERT).
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
