Lange EMS, et al. - This study was designed to investigate the link between intrapartum magnesium administration and the incidence of maternal fever, presuming a lower incidence of fever in parturients exposed to intrapartum magnesium vs nonexposed parturients. It was indicated in this study that magnesium may play a protective role against the development of intrapartum fever.

Methods

• Researchers assessed electronic medical record data from all deliveries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Illinois) between 2007 and 2014.
• Intrapartum fever (temperature at or higher than 38.0°C) was the primary outcome.
• Using a multivariable logistic regression model, they assessed the factors associated with the development of maternal fever.
• They used propensity score matching to reduce potential bias from nonrandom selection of magnesium administration.

Results

• Development of intrapartum fever was reported in 5,924 (10.1%) of the 58,541 women who met inclusion criteria.
• Data reported that febrile parturients were more likely to be nulliparous, have used neuraxial analgesia, and have been delivered via cesarean section.
• In women exposed to magnesium (6.0%) vs those who were not (10.2%), the reported incidence of fever was lower.
• In multivariable logistic regression, the development of a fever was less likely in women exposed to magnesium (adjusted odds ratio = 0.42 [95% CI, 0.31 to 0.58]).
• In addition, it was noted that after propensity matching (N = 959 per group), the odds ratio of developing fever was lower in women who received magnesium therapy (odds ratio = 0.68 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.98]).