The 65th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was held from May 6 to 9 in San Diego and attracted more than 3,000 participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in obstetrics and gynecology. The conference highlighted recent advances in the prevention, detection, and treatment of conditions impacting women, with presentations focusing on the advancement of health care services for women worldwide.
In one study, Michelle H. Moniz, M.D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues found that the rate of inpatient postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) placement is rising, but many women may still struggle with access.
"In a nationally representative sample of delivery hospitalizations from 2008 to 2013, the rate of inpatient postpartum LARC insertion is rising. However, the rate of LARC insertion (13.5 per 10,000 deliveries) remains less than 2 percent of the rate of sterilization (683 per 10,000 deliveries)," Moniz said. "Inpatient postpartum LARC insertion was more common among women with medical comorbidities, women with non-private insurance, and those delivering at urban teaching hospitals. Observed variation in rates of inpatient postpartum LARC insertion rates across payer type and hospital type suggest possible access barriers to this service."
One author disclosed a financial relationship with Bayer.
Abstract No. 33B
In another study, Lynne Saito-Tom, M.D., of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, and colleagues found that women with class 3 obesity had higher rates of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) complications, particularly intrauterine device (IUD) expulsion.
"Of the 1,071 eligible patients, 36 percent were obese, and the most common races were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (36 percent) and Asian (31 percent). Women with class 3 obesity had a higher incidence of LNG-IUS complications combined (24 percent) and a three times higher odds of IUD expulsion compared to women with a body mass index less than 35 kg/m²," Saito-Tom said. "Further studies involving a large number of obese women are needed to better understand the potential mechanisms behind higher LNG-IUS complications in women with class 3 obesity. Clinicians should continue to encourage LNG-IUS use in all women because it is an effective method of contraception, especially since obese women have substantial risks associated with pregnancy."
One author disclosed a financial relationship with Merck.
Abstract No. 21F
Patrick S. Ramsey, M.D., of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio, and colleagues found that dissemination of information about the Zika virus and testing for patients and providers on the local level through county and regional health department websites is limited, despite excellent information available at the national level.
"For the studies we did in Texas, of the 254 county health department websites, only 13.8 percent offered any information about Zika, and only 3.1 percent had information available to providers about Zika testing," Ramsey said. "We evaluated the same for the 39 metropolitan health departments in Texas and found a higher number of sites with Zika information (51.3 percent); however, only a small proportion had information about Zika testing (5 percent)."
When the investigators looked at factors associated with better availability of information about the Zika virus and perinatal risk, they found that border counties (with Mexico), counties with documented Zika cases, counties with major international airports, counties with higher birth rates and counties with a metropolitan designation were more likely to have information available.
"The lack of readily available information on county and regional health department websites may limit the local efforts to educate patients and providers about the health and pregnancy risks of the Zika virus," Ramsey said. "Improvement in the availability of this information on these local websites may improve our educational efforts and improve access to testing for patients when needed."
Abstract No. 20O
Abstract No. 21O
