Effects of drug treatments and types of drugs used by pregnant women at different gestational ages on pregnancy outcomes: A retrospective study

To analyze the effects of drug treatments and types of drugs on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women at different gestational ages. The records of 526 pregnant women from our hospital from September 2018 to January 2024 were analyzed retrospectively. Women were categorized into 3 groups: normal delivery, artificial abortion, and spontaneous abortion. Data on maternal age, gestational age, smoking, drinking, radiation, medication timing, and types were collected and compared. Pearson correlation analysis assessed relationships between pregnancy outcomes, gestational age at medication, and medication types. After comparing multiple potential influencing factors, it was found that smoking history, timing of medication, and the use of antitussive and phlegm-reducing medications differed significantly among the different pregnancy outcome groups (P < .05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the gestational age at which pregnant women took medication was a significant positive influencing factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically artificial abortion (Coefficient = 0.210, P = .002). In addition, the use of antitussive and phlegm-reducing medications had a positive directional influence on adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically spontaneous abortion (Coefficient = 0.294, P = .016). Further analysis showed that as the gestational age at the time of medication increased, the normal delivery rate initially increased and then decreased. The rate of artificial abortion first increased and then stabilized, while the spontaneous abortion rate showed minimal fluctuation. The use of medications by pregnant women and the duration of pregnancy significantly impact induced abortion rates. Cough and mucus-reducing medications can lead to miscarriage, while other drugs in early pregnancy generally do not affect outcomes. Antitussive and mucus-reducing drugs specifically increase the risk of spontaneous abortion. Raising awareness about proper medication use and conducting research on this topic is crucial for enhancing prenatal and postnatal care, reducing induced abortions, and promoting population growth.