Comparison of antenatal care factors and pregnancy outcome in rural and urban context

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Perinatal outcomes of multiple births conceived through in vitro fertilization compared with spontaneous multiple births

Pregnancies that occur after assisted reproduction procedures constitute high-risk pregnancies. There is a lack of sufficient epidemio-logically based data on this issue in Latvia. The aim of this study was to compare the maternal and perinatal outcomes of multiple pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in comparison with spontaneous multiple pregnancies. This retrospective cohort study (2007–2014) analysed data from population-based Medical Birth Register (MBR). There is a statistically significant increase of multiple births from IVF pregnancies – an average 2% per year (p < 0.01). Newborns of IVF multiple births have higher odds of low birth weight (OR = 1.2) and congenital anomalies (OR = 1.6). Maternity characteristics showed that mothers in the IVF group were significantly older than those in the control group (≥35 years) (OR = 2.1) and primipara births (OR = 4.1). Multiple births conceived by IVF have similar outcomes as spontaneously conceived multiples in the perinatal period, although the rates of congenital anomalies after IVF are just slightly higher than in control group

Perinatal outcomes of multiple births conceived through in vitro fertilization compared with spontaneous multiple births

Pregnancies that occur after assisted reproduction procedures constitute high-risk pregnancies. There is a lack of sufficient epidemio-logically based data on this issue in Latvia. The aim of this study was to compare the maternal and perinatal outcomes of multiple pregnancies conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) in comparison with spontaneous multiple pregnancies. This retrospective cohort study (2007–2014) analysed data from population-based Medical Birth Register (MBR). There is a statistically significant increase of multiple births from IVF pregnancies – an average 2% per year (p < 0.01). Newborns of IVF multiple births have higher odds of low birth weight (OR = 1.2) and congenital anomalies (OR = 1.6). Maternity characteristics showed that mothers in the IVF group were significantly older than those in the control group (≥35 years) (OR = 2.1) and primipara births (OR = 4.1). Multiple births conceived by IVF have similar outcomes as spontaneously conceived multiples in the perinatal period, although the rates of congenital anomalies after IVF are just slightly higher than in control group

Comparative Analysis of the Most Important Cardiovascular Risk Factors Based on Cross-Sectional Studies in the Population of Latvia

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) in Latvia from the population-based cross-sectional study performed in 2019–2020 and to compare the results with a similar study done in 2009–2010. Materials and Methods: The target sample of 6000 individuals representing a cross-section of Latvia’s inhabitants (aged 25–74) was formed using stratified two-stage cluster sampling. The survey had two components: (1) an interview using a pre-specified questionnaire and (2) physical examination (height, weight, arterial pressure) and collection of venous blood samples to measure levels of fasting glucose (Glu), total cholesterol (TC), high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C/LDL-C), and triglycerides (Tg). In total, 4070 individuals were interviewed (32% non-response), from which 2218 (55%) individuals underwent physical examination and collection of blood samples. Results: The most frequently observed RFs were high LDL-C (62.0%), smoking (45.3%), and arterial hypertension (36.8%), while the prevalence of self-reported high cholesterol and hypertension was 19.3 and 18.6%, respectively. A decrease in the prevalence of hypertension, high LDL-C, and Glu was noted. Smoking decreased in younger men. The mean number of five most important cardiovascular RFs was 2.0 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0, 2.1); 2.3 (95% CI 2.2, 2.4) for men and 1.8 (95% CI 1.7, 19) for women. The average number of RFs has decreased by 0.3 in 10 years, t(5883) = −7.2, p Conclusions: Although the prevalence of cardiovascular RFs remains noteworthy, an improvement in the risk profile of the Latvian population has been observed over the past decade. The study shows subjective self-underestimation of cardiovascular risk