Alireza Sadeghi - Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Mina Rostami - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Nazila Nasiri - Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Robabeh Hatami - Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Arezoo Karimi Moghaddam - Dept. of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Vali-E-Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Zhaleh Karimi Moghaddam - Dept. of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Vali-e-asr Hospital, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
Alireza Zeraatchi - Dept. of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Valiasr-e-Asr Hospital, Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune-driven chronic systemic inflammatory disease. It could result in miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and preterm labor, among other unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with RA. Materials and Methods: Two cohorts of pregnant women with and without RA referred to the Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital's Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Zanjan, Iran, during ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰ were enrolled in a retrospective matched cohort study. Using their medical records, each participant completed a checklist of study variables. We used binary Logistic regression, chi-square test, Analysis of Variance, and independent samples t-test to analyze data using SPSS v.۲۳. Results: The study included ۲۸۰ pregnant women. The mean age of the RA and control group (pregnant women without RA) was ۳۲.۴ ± ۶.۶ and ۲۹.۵ ± ۶.۷ years, respectively. The most prevalent adverse outcome was spontaneous abortion (۵۴, ۱۹.۲۸%), which was significantly higher in the RA group (۲۵% vs. ۱۳.۶%, P= ۰.۰۱۵). Cesarean section (۲۴.۳% vs. ۱۰.۷%, P= ۰.۰۰۳) and low birth weight (LBW) were both significantly higher in the RA group (۱۵% vs. ۵%, P= ۰.۰۰۵). RA increased the probability of spontaneous abortion, cesarean section, and LBW by more than ۱.۳ (odds ratio, ۱.۳۸; ۹۵% CI, ۰.۴۵-۵.۴۶; P= ۰.۰۱۷), ۲.۲ (odds ratio, ۲.۲۴; ۹۵% CI, ۱.۲۹-۶.۵۴; P =۰.۰۰۴), and ۲.۶ (odds ratio, ۲.۶۷; ۹۵% CI, ۱.۸۶-۷.۰۵; P= ۰.۰۰۸) times, respectively. Conclusion: Pregnant women with RA are more likely to experience spontaneous abortion, cesarean section, and having LBW infants comparing to pregnant women without RA.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Pregnancy, Cesarean Section, Spontaneous Abortion, Low Birth Weight