Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40483396›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Prevalence and patterns of pre-existing multimorbidity in pregnancy in Northern Ireland: a population-based, retrospective study using linked routinely collected healthcare data.

Lisa Kent, Siang Ing Lee, Megha Singh, Steven Wambua, Katherine Phillips, Utkarsh Agrawal, Amaya Azcoaga-Lorenzo, Colin McCowan, Jonathon Kennedy, Holly Hope and 10 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Lisa KentCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. l.kent@qub.ac.uk.
Siang Ing LeeDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Megha SinghDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Steven WambuaDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Katherine PhillipsDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Utkarsh AgrawalDivision of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
Amaya Azcoaga-LorenzoDivision of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
Colin McCowanDivision of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
Jonathon KennedyCentre for Population Health and Wellbeing, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Holly HopeDivision of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, Centre for Women's Mental Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Ngawai MossPatient and Public Representative, Birmingham, UK.
Rachel PlachcinskiPatient and Public Representative, Birmingham, UK.
Catherine Nelson-PiercyGuy's and St, Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Mairead BlackSchool of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition, Aberdeen Centre for Women's Health Research, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Sinead BrophyCentre for Population Health and Wellbeing, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Aideen MaguireCentre for Public Health, Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Dermot O'ReillyCentre for Public Health, Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Krishnarajah NirantharakumarDepartment of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Kelly-Ann EastwoodCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
MuM-PreDiCT Group

Funding

Administrative Data Research Centre Northern Ireland. UKRI ES/W010240/1Strategic Priority Fund "Tackling multimorbidity at scale". Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council and in collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council MR/W014432/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultimorbidity in pregnancy increases health risks to women and babies, and creates challenges for services. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and patterns of maternal multimorbidity in a UK population.

methodsThis population-based, retrospective study used individual-level, linked, routinely collected health data accessed via The Health and Social Care Northern Ireland Business Service Organisation Honest Broker Service within a Trusted Research Environment following the Five Safes Framework. Pregnancy episodes were ascertained from the Northern Ireland Regional Maternity Service Database and linked via unique Health and Care Number to secondary care diagnoses and primary care medications. Yearly prevalence (2012-2020) of multimorbidity (≥ 2 physical or mental health conditions) and complex multimorbidity (involvement of ≥ 3 organ systems) were calculated for the full cohort and stratified by age, deprivation, body mass index (BMI) and gravida. Cross-sectional analyses of prevalence and exploration of unique combinations of conditions and organ system involvement across strata were performed during a period of stability in detection rates (2014-2019).

resultsThe annual number of pregnancies ranged from n = 24,403 (2012) to n = 19,504 (2020). Prevalence of maternal multimorbidity ranged from 18.2% (95%CI: 17.7-18.7%) (2012) to 22.8% (95% CI: 22.3-23.4%) (2016) and mostly involved coexistence of physical and mental health conditions (range: 13.0-17.4%). Complex multimorbidity ranged from 4.0% (2012) to 6.1% (2017). The mental health system demonstrated the highest prevalence compared to all other organ systems (range: 18.6-26.2%). Multimorbidity was higher at extremes of maternal age (< 25y:24.15%; 25-34y:21.20%; ≥ 35y:23.39%), and increased with deprivation (least deprived:19.61%; most deprived:25.78%), BMI (healthy:18.37%; obesity III:39.18%), and gravida (first pregnancy:19.18%; ≥ 5 pregnancies:30.69%). Mental health multimorbidity most impacted the youngest group (< 25y:4.60%; 25-34y:1.36%; ≥ 35y:0.85%) and those who were underweight (3.73% vs 1-2% in other categories). Mental health represented the most common organ system involved in multimorbidity (18.6% of the total study population), followed by respiratory (7.3%) and dermatology (7.2%).

conclusionsMultimorbidity impacts over 1 in 5 pregnant women in NI, with complex multimorbidity affecting over 1 in 20. This may present challenges across public health, primary and community care and maternity services which offer support to women with multimorbidity throughout their reproductive journeys, from preconception through to long-term postnatal follow-up.

Indexed as

MultimorbidityPregnancy ComplicationsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNorthern IrelandPregnancyPrevalenceRetrospective StudiesRoutinely Collected Health DataYoung AdultAdministrative dataLong-term conditionMaternalMental healthMultimorbidityNorthern IrelandObesityPopulation healthPreconception healthPregnancyRoutinely collected dataUnited Kingdom

Identifiers

PMID40483396
PMCPMC12145590

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.