Pregnancy and risk of COVID-19: a Norwegian registry-linkage study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and contact with specialist healthcare services for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between pregnant and non-pregnant women. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: All women ages 15-45 living in Norway on 1 March 2020 (n = 1 033 699). METHODS: We linked information from the national birth, patient, communicable diseases and education databases using unique national identifiers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We estimated hazard ratios (HR) among pregnant compared to non-pregnant women of having a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, a diagnosis of COVID-19 in specialist healthcare, or hospitalisation with COVID-19 using Cox regression. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, marital status, education, income, country of birth and underlying medical conditions. RESULTS: Pregnant women were not more likely to be tested for or to a have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (adjusted HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.92-1.07). Pregnant women had higher risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19 (HR 4.70, 95% CI 3.51-6.30) and any type of specialist care for COVID-19 (HR 3.46, 95% CI 2.89-4.14). Pregnant women born outside Scandinavia were less likely to be tested, and at higher risk of a positive test (HR 2.37, 95% CI 2.51-8.87). Compared with pregnant Scandinavian-born women, pregnant women with minority background had a higher risk of hospitalisation with COVID-19 (HR 4.72, 95% CI 2.51-8.87). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women were not more likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Still, pregnant women with COVID-19, especially those born outside of Scandinavia, were more likely to be hospitalised. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Pregnant women are at increased risk of hospitalisation for COVID-19.

Proceedings of the XVII and XVIII European meeting of trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology: moving towards European training in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology have officially organised meetings for European trainees since 1992. In order to understand each other better and appreciate differences in training, an annual exchange program and a meeting were developed to discuss topics related to training and harmonisation. The proceedings from the 17th meeting in Austria and the 18th meeting in Portugal serve as an illustration of the current status in Europe regarding 'assessment' and 'working conditions' during specialist training for obstetrics and gynaecology. ENTOG aims to represent all European trainee organisations in obstetrics and gynaecology and speak out on their behalf.

Hormonal factors and respiratory health in women--a review.

Sex hormones appear to play an important role in the lung health of women. This is, however, poorly understood and, in most aspects, poorly investigated; and the literature has been contradictory and confusing. This review presents recent research concerning the involvement of sex hormones in respiratory health of adult women, using the population surveys European Community Respiratory Health Survey and Respiratory Health in Northern Europe. Respiratory health varied substantially according to hormonal and metabolic conditions. First, menopause was associated with lower lung function and more respiratory symptoms, especially among lean women. Second, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) was associated with increased risk for asthma and wheeze; also, this association was particularly strong among lean women. Third, women with irregular menstruations in fertile age had more asthma, particularly allergic asthma, and reduced lung function, independently of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity. The findings were consistent across cultural and geographical borders. Our studies revealed that considering interplay between hormonal and metabolic factors is a clue to understand the effects of female sex hormones on the airways. A BMI of around 24-25 kg/m(2) appeared to be optimal; women with this BMI had no increase in respiratory health problems when reaching menopause or using HRT, and women in fertile age with this BMI had optimal lung function independently of menstrual status. In conclusion, female sex hormones appear to play a most important role for lung health in women. Further research on effects of sex hormones on the airways should take into account potential interplay with metabolic factors.