UNSCHEDULED VISITS TO THE OBSTETRICAL TRIAGE ASSESSMENT UNIT BY PREGNANT ADOLESCENTS IN AN URBAN CANADIAN CENTER COMPARED TO A MATCHED COHORT OF ADULT PREGNANT WOMEN.

Objectives Obstetrical triage assessment units (OTAU) offer rapid evaluation of pregnancy complications. Objectives of this study were to (1) determine frequency of visits to the OTAU by pregnant adolescent patients, (2) identify main reasons for visit to the OTAU and (3) assess frequency of visits to the OTAU by adolescents compared to a matched cohort of adult pregnant women. Methods After IRB approval, retrospective chart review was performed of all adolescent women (age ?20) who delivered at our institution between January 1st 2013 and December 31st 2017. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio with adult pregnant women (age >20). Demographic data, number and reasons for visits to the OTAU were recorded. Results 333 adolescent pregnant women were included in the study and 48% (N=160) visited the OTAU prior to delivery (18.6 (+/- 1.07) years). 159 adult women were included in a matched cohort (32.1 (+/- 4.74) years). Mean number of visits to the OTAU during pregnancy was 2.77 (+/-2.40) visits for adolescents and 1.96 (+/- 1.80) visits in the adult cohort (p=0.0002). Risk factors associated with increased number of visits included psychiatric conditions (3.51 visits/patient; p=0.0001), smoking (3.11 visits/patient; p=0.0001), history of preterm labor (4.71 visits/patient; p=0.0001) and multiparity (3.24 visits/patient; p=0.0001). Common reasons for visits by adolescents were: labor assessment (28.4%), vaginal leakage of fluid (19.2%) and preterm labor assesment (7.9%). Conclusions Adolescent pregnant women tend to visit the OTAU on an unscheduled basis more often than adult patients. Educational material can be developed to meet the needs of this population. Obstetrical triage assessment units (OTAU) offer rapid evaluation of pregnancy complications. Objectives of this study were to (1) determine frequency of visits to the OTAU by pregnant adolescent patients, (2) identify main reasons for visit to the OTAU and (3) assess frequency of visits to the OTAU by adolescents compared to a matched cohort of adult pregnant women. After IRB approval, retrospective chart review was performed of all adolescent women (age ?20) who delivered at our institution between January 1st 2013 and December 31st 2017. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio with adult pregnant women (age >20). Demographic data, number and reasons for visits to the OTAU were recorded. 333 adolescent pregnant women were included in the study and 48% (N=160) visited the OTAU prior to delivery (18.6 (+/- 1.07) years). 159 adult women were included in a matched cohort (32.1 (+/- 4.74) years). Mean number of visits to the OTAU during pregnancy was 2.77 (+/-2.40) visits for adolescents and 1.96 (+/- 1.80) visits in the adult cohort (p=0.0002). Risk factors associated with increased number of visits included psychiatric conditions (3.51 visits/patient; p=0.0001), smoking (3.11 visits/patient; p=0.0001), history of preterm labor (4.71 visits/patient; p=0.0001) and multiparity (3.24 visits/patient; p=0.0001). Common reasons for visits by adolescents were: labor assessment (28.4%), vaginal leakage of fluid (19.2%) and preterm labor assesment (7.9%). Adolescent pregnant women tend to visit the OTAU on an unscheduled basis more often than adult patients. Educational material can be developed to meet the needs of this population.