Drug prescriptions in French pregnant women between 2015 and 2016: a study in the EGB database

Abstract Purpose To describe drug prescriptions in pregnant women in France and to identify teratogenic and fetotoxic drug prescriptions. Methods This study was carried out using data from EGB (Echantillon Generaliste des Beneficiaires), a French national health database which includes 1/97th of the French population. Our study population included all pregnant women, aged 10 to 60, who were registered in the EGB and had a pregnancy outcome between 2015 and 2016. Drugs prescribed and dispensed to women during pregnancy and the 3 months before, were collected and described for each year and according to pregnancy trimesters. Prescriptions of major teratogen or fetotoxic drugs were described. Results We identified 18,279 pregnancies. Among them, 93% received drug prescriptions and dispensations during pregnancy with an average of 7.4±5.5 different drugs. "Alimentary tract and metabolism (75.4%)", "nervous system (64.0%)" and "blood and blood forming organs (58.7%)" classes were the most frequently prescribed to pregnant women. The 5 most frequently prescribed drugs were paracetamol (60.6%), iron (49.2%), folic acid (45.6%), phloroglucinol (44.0%) and colecalciferol (41.4%). The most commonly prescribed drugs included some that have not yet been well evaluated in pregnancy. Prescriptions and dispensations of teratogenic or fetotoxic drugs, as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and retinoids were observed. Valproic acid prescriptions to pregnant women have become extremely rare. Conclusion This descriptive study demonstrates that numerous drugs are prescribed and dispensed to pregnant women in France. These include drugs with a proven teratogenic or fetotoxic effect and many drugs that have not yet been well evaluated in pregnancy.