A Comparative Study of the Effect of Body Mass Index on Pregnancy Outcomes in Normal and Overweight Women

Abstract

Background: Maternal obesity is associated with various antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal complications. Increasing rates of overweight among pregnant women become a significant public health concern with various implications for prenatal care and supervision of delivery. Objective: The study aimed to determine the adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in primigravid overweight and obese women delivering singleton babies. Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted for one year at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Combined Military Hospital, Rangpur, during the period between July 2019 to June 2020. Primigravid women with a singleton uncomplicated pregnancy with a cephalic presentation at _37 weeks of gestation with accurate information regarding height and weight recorded at the booking visit were included in the study. Comparisons were made between 50 primigravidas with BMI _25 and 50 uncomplicated primigravidas with BMI between 18.5 - 24.99. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Data were analyzed by the Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: There was a significant increase in risk of developing gestational hypertension (RR=3.667; CI=1.63-8.27), preeclampsia (RR=7; CI=0.89- 54.83), gestational diabetes (RR=7; CI=0.89-54.83), failed induction of labour (RR=5.50; CI=1.28-23.55), failure to progress (R=6, CI= 1.41-25.44), macrosomia (RR=8, CI=1.04-61.62), NICU admissions (RR=2.45; CI=1.37-4.39), perineal lacerations (RR=7; CI=0.89-54.83), wound infection (RR=8;CI=1.04-61.62) among overweight mothers compared to non-obese mothers. Conclusions: It is concluded that obesity defined by Asian Indian guidelines (BMI _25 kg/m2) is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. J Rang Med Col. September 2022; Vol. 7, No. 2:31-34