Maternal anxiety and ultrasound markers for aneuploidy in a multiethnic population
Objective Discussion of isolated ultrasound (US) markers for fetal aneuploidy can provoke significant patient anxiety. The objective of this study is to quantify maternal anxiety associated with the detection of these markers. Methods All patients undergoing routine second‐trimester US examination f...
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Published in | Prenatal diagnosis Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 40 - 45 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Chichester, UK
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
01.01.2007
Wiley |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Objective
Discussion of isolated ultrasound (US) markers for fetal aneuploidy can provoke significant patient anxiety. The objective of this study is to quantify maternal anxiety associated with the detection of these markers.
Methods
All patients undergoing routine second‐trimester US examination for fetal anatomical survey over a one‐year period were administered the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for Adults before and after the procedure. Women with isolated fetal markers for aneuploidy were notified of the findings but discouraged from pursuing amniocentesis. Rates of normal US examination, aneuploidy markers, anomalies, amniocentesis, and pregnancy outcomes were assessed across the ethnic groups. Pre‐ and post‐ultrasound STAI surveys were scored and standardized with previously established norms. Student t‐tests, Chi‐square, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used where appropriate.
Results
Among the 798 patients tested, 57% were Hispanic, 30% were Asian, 6% were Black, and 7% were White. Maternal anxiety level was decreased in women after a normal US. The anxiety level increased with aneuploidy markers and was the highest with anomalies. Aneuploidy markers were more common among Hispanic and Asian fetuses, without any associated aneuploidy. Women with isolated aneuploidy markers underwent amniocentesis as often as women with advanced maternal age.
Conclusion
The detection and communication of isolated aneuploidy markers is associated with increased maternal anxiety and unnecessary amniocentesis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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Bibliography: | ArticleID:PD1618 Presented at the 2002 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting. ark:/67375/WNG-4NVBB74T-V istex:9C9F72C0865FD93022CB65595BAD737904EA6CEB Presented at the 2002 Society for Maternal‐Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting. ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0197-3851 1097-0223 |
DOI: | 10.1002/pd.1618 |