Issues of pregnancies with polyhydramnios in Reunion Island

The objective of this study was to assess the issues of pregnancies complicated with polyhydramnios in southern Reunion Island from 2001 to 2019.

This retrospective observational cohort study used prospectively collected data from a tertiary care centre on Reunion Island between January 2001 and December 2019. All cases citing "polyhydramnios" as an indication for caesarean section, labour induction, amniocentesis, high-risk hospitalization, or outpatient follow-up, were identified. Pregnancy characteristics, maternal health, delivery and neonatal outcomes were analysed.

The study population consisted of 79,822 mother-infants dyads, comprising 411 polyhydramnios pregnancies (0.5 %), among which 12 % of malformations were found, including 6 cases of congenital ichthyosis; 2 % were diagnosed postnatally, 57 % of polyhydramnios cases were idiopathic. Main risk factors identified for polyhydramnios were: maternal age, gestational diabetes, monochorionic twin pregnancies, large for gestational age newborns, and foetal malformations. Polyhydramnios pregnancies had a significantly higher rate of hospitalization (OR 4.14 [3.41-5.04]), gestational diabetes (1.73 [1.35-2.22]), C-section (2.09 [1.69-2.59]), induced labour (2.39 [1.95-2.92]), intrauterine foetal death (3.12 [1.66-5.88]), delivery before 33 weeks of gestation (2.32 [1.55-3.46]) and 37 (2.35 [1.87-2.97]) (p < 0,001).

Maternal-foetal and neonatal complications observed in our study are consistent with existing literature. Six cases of congenital ichtyosis were reported, representing an increased rate compared to the rest of the cohort. Prospective studies should be conducted assessing the long-term outcomes of children born from pregnancies affected by idiopathic polyhydramnios to enhance prenatal counselling provided to parents.