OBJECTIVE: Using a 3-year nationwide population-based database (2001-3), this 
study aims to examine the relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 
adverse pregnancy outcomes.
METHODS: The study used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Dataset 
and birth certificate registry. In total, 1912 mothers with RA and 9560 matched 
comparison mothers were included. Separate conditional logistic regression 
analyses were carried out to explore the risk of low birthweight (LBW), preterm 
births, small for gestational age (SGA) infants, preeclampsia and delivery mode 
(vaginal vs caesarean section (CS)) for the study and comparison groups.
RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that the adjusted odds of LBW, SGA infants, 
preeclampsia and CS for women with RA were 1.47 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.78), 1.20 (95% 
CI 1.05 to 1.38), 2.22 (95% CI 1.59 to 3.11) and 1.19 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.31) 
times, respectively, that of comparison mothers.
CONCLUSION: Women with RA had an increased risk of LBW, SGA babies, preeclampsia 
and CS compared with unaffected women.