Obstetric and neonatal outcome in patients with anxiety disorders

To investigate whether a diagnosis of anxiety disorder is a risk factor for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcome.

A retrospective population-based study was conducted comparing obstetric and neonatal complications in patients with and without a diagnosis of anxiety. Multivariable analysis was performed to control for confounders.

During the study period 256,312 singleton deliveries have occurred, out of which 224 (0.09%) were in patients with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. Patients with anxiety disorders were older (32.17 ± 5.1 versus 28.56 ± 5.9), were more likely to be smokers (7.1% versus 1.1%) and had a higher rate of preterm deliveries (PTD; 15.2% versus 7.9%), as compared with the comparison group. Using a multiple logistic regression model, anxiety disorders were independently associated with advanced maternal age (OR 1.087; 95% CI 1.06-1.11; p = 0.001), smoking (OR 4.51; 95% CI 2.6-7.29; p = 0.001) and preterm labor (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.32--2.8; p = 0.001). In addition, having a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder was found to be an independent risk factor for cesarean section (adjusted OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.82-3.46; p < 0.001), using another multivariable model. No association was noted between anxiety disorders and adverse neonatal outcomes including small for gestational age, low Apgar scores and perinatal mortality.

Anxiety disorders are independent risk factors for spontaneous preterm delivery and cesarean section, but in our population it is not associated with adverse perinatal outcome.