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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(09): 1275-1281
DOI: 10.1055/a-2107-1585
Original Article

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Increasing Maternal Obesity

Katherine Addicott
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Matthew Nudelman
2   Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Krista Putty
2   Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Priya Prasher
2   Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Deborah Preston
2   Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Jennie L Yoost
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Annie DeFruscio
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
David Bartlett
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Catherine Cavender
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Meagen Carter
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Hannah Datz
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Kayla Rodriquez
3   Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
,
Joseph Werthammer 
2   Department of Pediatrics, Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to determine adverse perinatal outcomes related to maternal preconception body mass index (BMI).

Study Design This is a retrospective observational cohort study at a single institution of 500 consecutive mothers of normal weight with a preconception BMI of 18.5 to less than 25 and 500 additional obese mothers with a preconception BMI more than or equal to 30. Maternal/newborn metrics were stratified by maternal preconception BMI and trend analysis was performed both by simple univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results The study included 858 mother/baby dyads after 142 were excluded. Trend analysis demonstrated higher preconception BMI was significantly associated with progressively higher rates of cesarean section (p < 0.001), preeclampsia p < 0.001), gestational diabetes (p < 0.001), preterm birth (p = 0.001), lower 1- and 5 minutes Apgar scores (p < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (p = 0.002). These associations remained significant in both simple univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.

Conclusion We demonstrated obese women are more likely to have maternal complications and neonatal morbidity when compared with normal weight mothers. Maternal and fetal complications increase with increasing obesity with superobese mothers (BMI ≥ 50) having more perinatal adverse outcomes when compared with other classes of obesity. It is reasonable to counsel weight loss prior to conception of women with BMI more than or equal to 30 in an effort to reduce maternal complications and neonatal morbidity related to pregnancy.

Key Points

  • Maternal obesity is associated with adverse outcomes.

  • Complications increase with increasing obesity.

  • Superobese mothers have the most adverse outcomes.

Keywords

maternal obesity - adverse perinatal outcomes - superobesity


Publication History

Received: 25 April 2022

Accepted: 29 May 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
07 June 2023

Article published online:
10 July 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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