this spanish flu (1918-1919) was the biggest epidemic of the last century It was associated with an increased risk of low-birth-weight babies or stillbirth, according to a study at a Swiss hospital that analyzed data at the time.
The journal Pos One has published a study led by the University of Zurich in which Data on mothers and newborns Worked at the Bern Mother and Child Hospital from 1880 to 1900 and from 1914 to 1922.
Although factors affecting neonatal health are multifaceted, these registries show a significant increase in neonatal health Low birth weight and stillbirth During and after a pandemic, The pattern is similar to that recently observed for covid-19.
The research team says the study is yet another example showing that the worst epidemics of the last century were associated with an increased risk of stillbirth and low birth weight. “This prompts us to Better prepared for future pandemics To mitigate its impact on maternal and newborn health,” the researchers wrote.
The study noted that 1918 and 1919, the years of the “Spanish flu” outbreak, saw a significant increase in the incidence of low birth weight.In addition, mothers are highly exposed to the pandemic pregnancy period, Based on the date of their pregnancy and the infection rate at the time, they had higher risk stillbirth.
However, the data in the dataset on influenza infection during pregnancy were too imprecise to draw conclusions at the individual level.