Evidence mapPaperPMID 39302513Full record

ArticleDrug safety2025

The Use of Multiple Medications During Pregnancy Among an Ethnically Diverse Population in South-Eastern Melbourne: A Retrospective Analysis to Explore Potential Risks and Complications.

Yitayeh Belsti, Aya Mousa, Hannah Jackson, Lisa J Moran, Kirsten R Palmer, Raja Ram Dhungana, Emily Callander, Daniel Lorber Rolnik, Helena Teede, Joanne Enticott

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug safety, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yitayeh BelstiMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Aya MousaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Hannah JacksonFaculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Lisa J MoranMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Kirsten R PalmerMonash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Raja Ram DhunganaMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Emily CallanderFaculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Daniel Lorber RolnikMonash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Helena TeedeMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia.
Joanne EnticottMonash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Level 1, 43-51 Kanooka Grove, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia. joanne.enticott@monash.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-4480-5690

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveMedication use is increasing to treat both pre-existing and pregnancy-related medical conditions or complications. This study aims to investigate factors associated with multiple medication use during pregnancy, as well as any increased risk of pregnancy complications for women taking multiple medications.

methodsA retrospective analysis of routinely collected medical records of singleton pregnant women was conducted in Southeast Melbourne, Australia, between 2016 and 2021. Self-reported medication use was recorded as part of routine medical care, starting from the first antenatal booking appointment and continuing for every subsequent antenatal appointment until birth. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more medical conditions. Logistic regression was used to assess factors influencing multiple medication use (defined as taking two or more non-supplemental medications at any stage of pregnancy) and associations with pregnancy complications.

resultsOf 48,502 participants, 34.9% used one medication, while 11.7% used multiple medications. Women of older age (30-34, 35-39, and ≥  40 years), higher body mass index (25.0-29.9 kg/m

conclusionsMedication use during pregnancy is prevalent, with many pregnant mothers taking multiple medications. Given the rising maternal age, body mass index, and morbidities in pregnancy, the use of medications during pregnancy is increasing. Such use correlates with an increased chance of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the context of limited trials on the safety and efficacy of medications in pregnancy, timely harnessing of the information available within routine medical records for post-marketing surveillance is important.

Indexed as

Pregnancy ComplicationsAdultAustraliaEthnicityFemaleHumansPolypharmacyPregnancyRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39302513
PMCPMC11711702

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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 Socratic graph.