Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2023
Population-Based Linked Longitudinal Surveillance of Pregnant People and Their Infants: A Critical Resource for Emerging, Re-Emerging, and Persistent Threats.
Public health emergencies, from Zika to COVID-19, have underscored the importance of addressing the needs of pregnant people and their infants. Recent events have underlined the critical role of mother-infant-linked longitudinal surveillance to characterize and assess the impacts of emerging, re-emerging, and persistent threats, including infectious diseases, on these populations. In partnership with state, local, and territorial health departments, CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities activated the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET) to capture information about pregnant people with laboratory-confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and their infants. ⋯ This commentary describes the activation of SET-NET to monitor COVID-19 in pregnancy and highlights the experiences of health departments. We provide examples of how SET-NET findings informed COVID-19 prevention efforts and public health policy. Lastly, we identify opportunities to improve and advance surveillance efforts to protect the health of pregnant people and their infants in the United States from current and future threats.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2023
The Effect of Targeted Ultrasound as Primary Imaging Modality on Quality of Life in Women with Focal Breast Complaints: A Comparative Cohort Study.
Background: The high diagnostic performance of modern breast ultrasound (US) opens the possibility to shift toward targeted US as initial imaging test in women with breast complaints. This comparative cohort study investigates the effects of starting with US followed by digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), as practiced in the breast ultrasound study (BUST), on women's health-related quality of life (QoL). Methods: Fifty BUST participants and 50 "controls" who underwent DBT and US in regular order filled out the EQ-5D-3L three times during their visit: BUST participants before US (T1), after US (T2), and after DBT (T3) and non-BUST participants before DBT (T1), after DBT (T2), and after US (T3). ⋯ Conclusions: The results suggest that changing the radiological order by starting with US has a short-term positive effect on overall QoL, anxiety, and DBT pain experience in symptomatic women. Owing to its negative impact, biopsies should be performed cautiously. In conclusion, the moment of reassurance for women advances by reversing the radiological order according to the BUST, showing the high importance of human interaction in diagnostic care in addition to the clinical performance of imaging modalities.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2023
Observational StudyBoosting Dose of Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Does Not Affect Reproductive Outcomes in In-Vitro Fertilization Patients: A Cohort Study.
Background: Since the introduction of anti-COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, few studies have shown that reproductive outcomes in artificial reproductive technology (ART) treatments are not impaired, after receiving the two-dose regimen. Our aim was to investigate whether a boosting dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA vaccine affects reproductive outcomes in ART patients. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study, including 157 consecutive in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles between October 1, 2021, and November 24, 2021, in a single university affiliated IVF unit. ⋯ We stratified the male cohort according to boosting vaccine dose status. Sperm concentration and motility did not differ significantly after boosting (p = 0.49 and 0.49, respectively). Conclusions: Our results provide further reassurance that IVF outcomes are not affected by the anti-SARS-CoV-2 Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA vaccine, in particular the three-dose regimen.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2023
Female Sex Affects Respiratory Function and Exercise Ability in Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Pneumonia.
Background: Coronavirus-19 Disease (COVID-19) may cause persistent symptoms and functional respiratory impairment, known as long COVID. Determinants of long COVID are unclear. Although males experience more severe acute illness, the impact of sex on the occurrence of long-term sequelae is unknown. ⋯ Multiple logistic regression showed that female sex was an independent predictor of abnormal DLCO and 6-MWT. The prevalence of symptoms and radiological abnormalities was similar in the two groups. Conclusions: These data show that at 4 months follow-up women recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia are more likely to exhibit a reduced alveolar diffusion capacity and exercise tolerance than men, although a similar severity of the acute disease.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2023
Clinical TrialSex Differences in the Burden of Hip Fractures on Functional Status in Older Age.
Background: Hip fractures can dramatically impact the health and self-sufficiency of older people. We investigated the influence of pre-fracture functional status on functional decline and mortality after hip fracture, and possible sex differences in this regard. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 288 older patients hospitalized with hip fracture in an Orthogeriatric Unit. ⋯ Conclusions: Older men may have a worse functional prognosis than women after a hip fracture. This difference seemed to be exacerbated in cases of high pre-fracture functional performance, suggesting that females have a greater functional reserve, namely better adaptation and recovery strategies to deal with the fracture. Clinical Trial Registration: Registration code: NCT02687698.