| Sub-title | |
| Authors | C Savona Ventura M Gatt |
| Abstract | Obesity has been associated with specific increased perinatal risks to mother and child. The obstetric outcomes of 1691 of women with a body weight >=85 kg and a pre-pregnancy BMI >30 and their 1721 infants were statistically compared to similar parameters in the background population of 18717 maternities and 18974 births. Obese mothers were more likely to be older than 30 years [p<0.0001], multiparous [p<0.0001] with a history of previous miscarriages [p=0.003]. The antenatal period was more likely to be complicated by hypertensive disease [p<0.0001], and gestational diabetes [p<0.0001]. They were less likely to suffer from accidental haemorrhage [p=0.0074]. These antenatal problems were not simply a determinant of maternal age. They did not appear to have a significantly higher risk of pre-existing diabetes [p=0.3267]. Obese women were also more likely to require obstetric interventions with induction of labour [p<0.0001] and Caesarean section [p<0.0001]. There was a statistically lower rate of operative deliveries [p=0.0007]. The preterm delivery rates were not different [p=0.947] between the two groups of women. The infants born to obese women were at a statistically higher risk for macrosomia [more than 4.0 kg; p<0.0001] and lower risk for low birth weight [under 2.5 kg; p=0.0248]. They also apparently had a statistically higher risk for congenital malformations. There appeared to be a slightly higher risk for respiratory distress though the differences did not reach statistical significance [p=0.0596]. There did not appear to be any significantly increased risk for perinatal loss [p=0.8212], shoulder dystocia [p=0.5059], and low APGAR scores at five minutes [p=0.9989]. It would appear that the obese pregnant woman and her infant are predisposed to adverse short-term obstetric outcomes similar to those found in gestational diabetics. This apparent relationship may reflect determinants of the Metabolic Syndrome. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
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| Key words | congenital malformations, obesity, perinatal loss, shoulder dystocia, obstetric outcome |