Adverse pregnancy outcomes in healthcare workers: a Korean nationwide population-based study

Purpose To assess female healthcare workers’ pregnancy complications and outcomes including abortion, fetal screening abnormalities, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and preterm labor using nationwide population data and compare these results with those of the general population in Korea. Methods Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) claim data was used. We choose 3 different reference groups for comparison: (1) dependents of employees insured by NHI, i.e. non-working women, (2) all insured employees, i.e. all working women, and (3) workers in the education division. To compare the groups, logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis after adjusting for age and income level. Results Overall, healthcare workers showed a higher adjusted OR (odds ratio) in almost all obstetrical consequences. Miscarriage, threatened abortion, preterm labor, fetal screening abnormalities, and IUGR showed a higher adjusted OR in the working group than in the non-working group. We also observed similar results in a comparison of both the working groups. Regarding workers in the education division, ORs for obstetrical outcomes were also high, except for preterm labor. Conclusions Health care workers have a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, IUGR, and fetal screening abnormalities.