Department of Research & Evaluation, SC Kaiser Permanente

Research Scientists

	Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH	Select one of Our Scientists to find out their latest research.
	Research Scientist I
	Research & Evaluation
	100 S. Los Robles Ave
	Pasadena, CA 91101
	Phone: 626-564-5658
	Email Address: Darios.T.Getahun@kp.org
	Administrative Contact: Daniel.J.Pinion@kp.org

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Other Affiliation

Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Education

MD, General Practitioner, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

MPH, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, UMDNJ – School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey

Fellowship, Fellowship in Primary Care Research, Health Service Research, Department of Family Medicine UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey

PhD, Epidemiology, UMDNJ-School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey

Research Interests

Dr. Getahun's current research focus and interests include population-based studies related to perinatal and child health issues, successive pregnancy outcomes, fetal origin of childhood diseases, asthma morbidity and mortality, and health disparities. Dr. Getahun is interested in studying the heritability of various adverse perinatal outcomes among singleton and multiple births to further examine the contribution of genetic factors and factors due to shared intrauterine factors. He is also a member of the National Children's Study (the largest Study of children's health and development in the history of the United States) and Medication and Outcomes in Pregnancy (exploring the impact of medication use in pregnancy on adverse perinatal outcomes in Kaiser Permanente members) research team.

Current Studies Recent Publications

The association between stillbirth in the first pregnancy and subsequent adverse perinatal outcomes

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Principal Investigator

Funding source: No Sponsor

The purposes of this study are to: (i) examine the association between stillbirth in the first pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes in the second pregnancy and (ii) determin if risks are modified by the time between stillbirth and the subsequent delivery.

National Children's Study

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Site Principal Investigator

Funding source: National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)

This is the largest study of children's health and development in the history of the United States. It will enroll 100,000 women and their children into the study. The Children will be followed for 20 years. It will be one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies of national scope on the United States to examine important health issues to establish links between children's environments and their health and development.

Bariatric Surgery and Pregnancy Outcomes

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Principal Investigator

Funding source: No Sponsor

This is a study to assess: (i) the benefit of bariatric surgery in obese women in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes, (ii) whether risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes are modified by a history of bariactric surgery, and (iii) if the pregnancy outcomes are influenced by interpregnancy intervals, race, sex and socioeconomic status.

Health Outcomes in Mothers with Muliple Sclerosis and their Infants

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Co-Investigator

Funding source: Kaiser Permanente Operating Budget

This is a study to evaluate the effect of breastfeeding choices of mothers with multiple sclerosis on their disease course and the health of their infants. The project aims to determine whether exclusive breastfeeding offers any protection against postpartum relapses, particularly compared to women who forego breastfeeding and women who combine breastfeeding with formula-feedings. Our secondary objective is to determine whether the breastfeeding habits impact the offsprings’ health (e.g. colds, flus, fevers, gastroenteritis) and whether these vary from healthy pregnant women and their infants.

Associations Between Maternal and Paternal Characteristics and Adverse Maternal, Fetal, and Infant Outcomes Among Singleton and Multiple Births in the United States

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Principal Investigator

Funding source: No Sponsor

This study is to examine maternal, fetal and infant outcomes among singleton and multiple births in the US and to assess if their rates differ by age, race, and geographic location

Disparities in Obesity and Adverse Health Outcomes

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Co-Investigator

Funding source: Kaiser Permanente Operating Budget

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Co-Investigator

Funding source: No Sponsor

Prevalence of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Hospitalized Children in the United States Based on HCUP-Kids Data

Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, MPH, Co-Investigator

Funding source: No Sponsor

Validity of health plan and birth certificate data for pregnancy research.
Andrade SE, Scott PE, Davis RL, Li DK, Getahun D, Cheetham TC, Raebel MA, Toh S, Dublin S, Pawloski PA, Hammad TA, Beaton SJ, Smith DH, Dashevsky I, Haffenreffer K, Cooper WO
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2013; 22:7-15
PubMed Abstract

In utero exposure to ischemic-hypoxic conditions and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Getahun D, Rhoads GG, Demissie K, Lu SE, Quinn VP, Fassett MJ, Wing DA, Jacobsen SJ
Pediatrics 2013; 131:e53-61
PubMed Abstract

In utero exposure to ischemic-hypoxic conditions and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Getahun D, Rhoads GG, Demissie K, Lu SE, Quinn VP, Fassett MJ, Wing DA, Jacobsen SJ
Pediatrics 2013; 131:e53-61
PubMed Abstract

Recent Trends in Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Getahun D, Jacobsen SJ, Fassett MJ, Chen W, Demissie K, Rhoads GG
JAMA Pediatr 2013; :1-7
PubMed Abstract

Physico-chemical investigation of consumables and environmental samples to determine the causative agent of liver disease outbreak in Tahitay Koraro Woreda, Tigray.
Debella A, Abebe D, Tekabe F, Degefa A, Desta A, Tefera A, Geyid A, Mudie K, Tadele A, Getahun D, Biza T, Kebede T
Ethiop Med J 2012; 50 Suppl 2:37-45
PubMed Abstract

Extreme childhood obesity is associated with increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease in a large population-based study.
Koebnick C, Getahun D, Smith N, Porter AH, Der-Sarkissian JK, Jacobsen SJ
Int J Pediatr Obes 2011; 6:e257-63
PubMed Abstract

Body weight and height data in electronic medical records of children.
Smith N, Coleman KJ, Lawrence JM, Quinn VP, Getahun D, Reynolds K, Chen W, Porter AH, Jacobsen SJ, Koebnick C
Int J Pediatr Obes 2010; 5:237-42
PubMed Abstract

Effect of chorioamnionitis on early childhood asthma.
Getahun D, Strickland D, Zeiger RS, Fassett MJ, Chen W, Rhoads GG, Jacobsen SJ
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010; 164:187-92
PubMed Abstract

Recurrence of preterm premature rupture of membranes in relation to interval between pregnancies.
Getahun D, Strickland D, Ananth CV, Fassett MJ, Sacks DA, Kirby RS, Jacobsen SJ
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 202:570.e1-6
PubMed Abstract

Prevalence of extreme obesity in a multiethnic cohort of children and adolescents.
Koebnick C, Smith N, Coleman KJ, Getahun D, Reynolds K, Quinn VP, Porter AH, Der-Sarkissian JK, Jacobsen SJ
J Pediatr 2010; 157:26-31.e2
PubMed Abstract

Gestational diabetes: risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies.
Getahun D, Fassett MJ, Jacobsen SJ
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 203:467
PubMed Abstract

Health plan administrative records versus birth certificate records: quality of race and ethnicity information in children.
Smith N, Iyer RL, Langer-Gould A, Getahun DT, Strickland D, Jacobsen SJ, Chen W, Derose SF, Koebnick C
BMC Health Serv Res 2010; 10:316
PubMed Abstract

Trends in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hospitalizations in US children, adolescents, and young adults.
Koebnick C, Getahun D, Reynolds K, Coleman KJ, Porter AH, Lawrence JM, Punyanitya M, Quinn VP, Jacobsen SJ
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009; 48:597-603
PubMed Abstract

The association between stillbirth in the first pregnancy and subsequent adverse perinatal outcomes.
Getahun D, Lawrence JM, Fassett MJ, Strickland D, Koebnick C, Chen W, Jacobsen SJ
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 201:378.e1-6
PubMed Abstract

Recurrence of fetal growth restriction in singleton and twin gestations.
Ananth CV, Kaminsky L, Getahun D, Kirby RS, Vintzileos AM
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2009; 22:654-61
PubMed Abstract

Racial and ethnic disparities in the trends in primary cesarean delivery based on indications.
Getahun D, Strickland D, Lawrence JM, Fassett MJ, Koebnick C, Jacobsen SJ
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009; 201:422.e1-7
PubMed Abstract

Prenatal tobacco use and risk of stillbirth: a case-control and bidirectional case-crossover study.
Salihu HM, Sharma PP, Getahun D, Hedayatzadeh M, Peters S, Kirby RS, Alio AP, Gaafer-Ahmed H
Nicotine Tob Res 2008; 10:159-66
PubMed Abstract

Gestational diabetes in the United States: temporal trends 1989 through 2004.
Getahun D, Nath C, Ananth CV, Chavez MR, Smulian JC
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008; 198:525.e1-5
PubMed Abstract

Polymorphisms in methionine synthase reductase and betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase genes: risk of placental abruption.
Ananth CV, Elsasser DA, Kinzler WL, Peltier MR, Getahun D, Leclerc D, Rozen RR
Mol Genet Metab 2007; 91:104-10
PubMed Abstract

Risk factors for antepartum and intrapartum stillbirth: a population-based study.
Getahun D, Ananth CV, Kinzler WL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007; 196:499-507
PubMed Abstract

Changes in prepregnancy body mass index between the first and second pregnancies and risk of large-for-gestational-age birth.
Getahun D, Ananth CV, Peltier MR, Salihu HM, Scorza WE
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007; 196:530.e1-8
PubMed Abstract

Recurrence of ischemic placental disease.
Ananth CV, Peltier MR, Chavez MR, Kirby RS, Getahun D, Vintzileos AM
Obstet Gynecol 2007; 110:128-33
PubMed Abstract

Primiparity: an 'intermediate' risk group for spontaneous and medically indicated preterm birth.
Ananth CV, Peltier MR, Getahun D, Kirby RS, Vintzileos AM
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2007; 20:605-11
PubMed Abstract

Acute and chronic respiratory diseases in pregnancy: associations with spontaneous premature rupture of membranes.
Getahun D, Ananth CV, Oyelese Y, Peltier MR, Smulian JC, Vintzileos AM
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2007; 20:669-75
PubMed Abstract

Changes in prepregnancy body mass index between pregnancies and risk of primary cesarean delivery.
Getahun D, Kaminsky LM, Elsasser DA, Kirby RS, Ananth CV, Vintzileos AM
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007; 197:376.e1-7
PubMed Abstract

Associations between 2 polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and placental abruption.
Ananth CV, Peltier MR, De Marco C, Elsasser DA, Getahun D, Rozen R, Smulian JC
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007; 197:385.e1-7
PubMed Abstract

Primary preeclampsia in the second pregnancy: effects of changes in prepregnancy body mass index between pregnancies.
Getahun D, Ananth CV, Oyelese Y, Chavez MR, Kirby RS, Smulian JC
Obstet Gynecol 2007; 110:1319-25
PubMed Abstract