Trends in the use of prenatal testing services for fetal aneuploidy in Ontario: a descriptive study.

Trends in the use of prenatal testing services for fetal aneuploidy in Ontario: a descriptive study.
CMAJ Open. 2018 Oct-Dec;6(4):E436-E444
Authors: Huang T, Dougan S, Walker M, Armour CM, Okun N
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2014, Ontario augmented its publicly funded multiple-marker screening program for prenatal aneuploidy by incorporating cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) analysis for high-risk pregnancies. We assessed trends in the use of multiple-marker screening, cffDNA screening and prenatal diagnostic testing before and after implementation of public funding.
METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study based on data from the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario. The study population included all pregnant women in Ontario with a singleton pregnancy and an expected date of delivery between July 1, 2012, and Mar. 31, 2016, with pregnancy data captured in BORN. Pregnancy losses and terminations before 20 weeks' gestation not captured in BORN were excluded. We generated descriptive statistics to show trends and regional variations in use.
RESULTS: The study sample included 534 210 singleton pregnancies. After cffDNA screening was funded for specific indications, uptake of multiple-marker screening increased slightly, from 66.5% to 68.1% (p < 0.001). Uptake of cffDNA screening among women with a positive multiple-marker screening result increased substantially, from 3.2% to 48.8% (p < 0.001). In contrast,...

Source: cmaj - October 1, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: Huang T, Dougan S, Walker M, Armour CM, Okun N Tags: CMAJ Open Source Type: research