Analysis of risk factors for complicated appendicitis during pregnancy and evaluation of clinical prediction model: A prospective cohort study

Objective

To investigate the risk factors and the value of clinical prediction model for complicated appendicitis (CA) during pregnancy.

Methods

Prospective analysis of pregnant patients who underwent appendectomy at a single tertiary care center between February 2020 and February 2023 and who ultimately had pathologically confirmed acute appendicitis (AA). According to intraoperative conditions and postoperative pathology, they were divided into the CA group and the uncomplicated appendicitis (UA) group. The two groups of patients were then compared in terms of demographic characteristics, disease features, ancillary tests and predictive models of acute appendicitis.

Results

A total of 90 patients with AA in pregnancy were included, 21 of whom had CA in pregnancy and 69 had UA in pregnancy. Multivariate regression analysis showed that gestational week, neutrophil ratio and C-reactive protein (CRP) were independent risk factors for CA during pregnancy. Relative to the first trimester, the third trimesters had an increased risk of complicated appendicitis (OR = 12.48, 95% CI: 1.56–99.57, P = 0.017). Neutrophil ratio ≥85.30% (OR = 24.54, 95% CI: 2.59–232.72, P = 0.005) and CRP ≥34.26 mg/L (OR = 7.86, 95% CI: 2.18–28.38, P = 0.002) had a significantly increased risk of CA. The AIR and AAS score models were statistically different between the two groups, but with a lower sensitivity of 52.38% and 42.86%, respectively.

Conclusion

The third trimesters, neutrophil ratio ≥85.30% and CRP ≥34.26 mg/L may be key predictors of CA in pregnancy. The current scoring model is inadequate to identify complex appendicitis in pregnancy and further research is needed.