Impact of maternal depression on perinatal outcomes in hospitalized women—a prospective study

Scarce data exists regarding the prevalence of antenatal depression in hospitalized pregnant women, and its effect on perinatal outcome. We aimed to estimate the risk of maternal depression among women hospitalized in a high-risk pregnancy department, and to evaluate its potential association with adverse perinatal outcome. A depression screening self-questionnaire-based prospective study was performed, in which hospitalized pregnant women who screened positive for depression were compared to those who screened negative. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used for antenatal depression screening. Pregnancy course and perinatal outcome were compared between the groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to control for clinically relevant confounders. During the study period, 279 women met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 28.3% (n = 79) screened positive for depression (≥ 10 points on the EPDS). In the univariate analysis, a significantly higher incidence of preterm delivery (< 37 weeks), low birthweight (< 2500 g), low Apgar scores (at 1 and 5 min), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions were noted among the screen positive group. In the multivariate regression model, controlled for maternal age, ethnicity, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, past preterm delivery, and gestational age upon admission, maternal antenatal depression during hospitalization was noted as an independent risk factor for preterm delivery (adjusted OR 3.32, 95%CI 1.16–9.52, p = 0.026). Maternal antenatal depression during hospitalization is very common and appears to play a significant and independent role in the prediction of preterm delivery.