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Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Five European Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Ceulemans

    (Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
    Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
    L-C&Y, KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Veerle Foulon

    (Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Alice Panchaud

    (Service of Pharmacy, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Ursula Winterfeld

    (Swiss Teratogen Information Service, Clinical Pharmacology Service, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Léo Pomar

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Valentine Lambelet

    (Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Brian Cleary

    (Rotunda Hospital, D01 P5W9 Dublin, Ireland
    School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, D02 VN15 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Fergal O’Shaughnessy

    (Rotunda Hospital, D01 P5W9 Dublin, Ireland
    School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, D02 VN15 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Anneke Passier

    (Teratology Information Service, Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, 5237 MH Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands)

  • Jonathan Luke Richardson

    (UK Teratology Information Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AB, UK)

  • Hedvig Nordeng

    (Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
    Department of Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

Insight into the epidemiology of perinatal medication use during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce. Therefore, a cross-sectional study using an anonymous web survey was performed in Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom (UK) to investigate the prevalence and type of medications used by pregnant and breast-feeding women during the first pandemic wave. Factors associated with medication use were estimated by logistic regression. In total, 8378 women participated (i.e., 3666 pregnant and 4712 breastfeeding women). Most responses were collected in Norway (34%) and The Netherlands (28%), followed by Switzerland (19%), Ireland (17%) and UK (2%). Participants were more often professionally active and more often had a higher educational level compared to the general birthing population in each country. Overall, approximately 60% of women reported having used at least 1 medication in the preceding 3 months. Daily and occasional use was reported by 34% and 42% of pregnant and 29% and 44% of breastfeeding women. The most prevalent ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical) categories were the nervous system, the respiratory system, the alimentary tract/metabolism, and the musculo-skeletal system. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, antacids, and cetirizine were the most frequently used medications. The rate of antibacterial use was lower than previously reported. Having a chronic illness, country, maternal age, SARS-CoV-2 testing, professional status and time since delivery were associated with medication use. In conclusion, perinatal medication use was highly prevalent during the first pandemic wave, underlining the importance of maintaining counseling efforts on medication use, even in times of disrupted healthcare services and/or limited resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Ceulemans & Veerle Foulon & Alice Panchaud & Ursula Winterfeld & Léo Pomar & Valentine Lambelet & Brian Cleary & Fergal O’Shaughnessy & Anneke Passier & Jonathan Luke Richardson & Hedvig Norde, 2022. "Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Five European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1389-:d:734777
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bárbara Heather Lutz & Diego Garcia Bassani & Vanessa Iribarrem Avena Miranda & Marysabel Pinto Telis Silveira & Sotero Serrate Mengue & Tatiane da Silva Dal Pizzol & Mariângela Freitas da Silveira & , 2020. "Use of Medications by Breastfeeding Women in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eva Gerbier & Guillaume Favre & Fatima Tauqeer & Ursula Winterfeld & Milos Stojanov & Alison Oliver & Anneke Passier & Hedvig Nordeng & Léo Pomar & David Baud & Alice Panchaud & Carla Meyer-Massetti &, 2022. "Self-Reported Medication Use among Pregnant and Postpartum Women during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A European Multinational Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Karel Allegaert, 2022. "Pharmacotherapy during Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Lactation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-5, September.

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