ABSTRACT
Background & Purpose: In Ireland, general adult hospitals are often located independently of maternity units. The lack of onsite obstetric input can present a challenge to the general physician due to lack of exposure and training in the management of complex medical conditions in pregnancy. The global CoVid-19 pandemic saw a shift in admission rates across many demographics. Our audit sought to identify whether there was any change in medical admission rates, and subspecialty distributions in pregnant women during the CoVid-19 pandemic at our institution. Method(s): This was a retrospective audit of medical admissions 2016 - 2021. Data was collected from medical charts, and discharge summaries on hospital electronic system. Result(s): From 2019-2021, there were 55 pregnant patients admitted. 30.1% (n=17) were admitted under respiratory services. 64% (n=11) of these patients were admitted with a diagnosis of CoVid-19, with 7% (n=4) requiring ICU admission. Discussion(s): Overall, pregnancy related admissions account for a small percentage of general adult hospital admissions. There was evidence of an increased burden of respiratory admissions during the CoVid-19 pandemic, particularly in the third and fourth quarters of 2021, corresponding with the delta wave in Europe. There was a general shift in admissions during the CoVid era, with a reduction in admissions to non-respiratory services. This is likely secondary to an increased focus on outpatient management during this period. This audit highlights data in line with previous international studies, showing the disproportionate burden of severe CoVid-19 in pregnant patients. Pregnant patients are a vulnerable group when admitted to nonmaternity hospitals. Awareness of medical specialties encountering a higher proportion of patients during pregnancy allows targeting of training, including introduction of specialty-specific diagnostic/therapeutic algorithms, and co-ordination of simulated emergency training.