EFFECT OF OBESITY ON FETO-MATERNAL OUTCOMES IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Abstract

Background: The maternal obesity was taken as an important risk factor during prenatal period as it predisposed to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Objective: To assess the association of adverse feto-maternal outcome with obesity in pregnant females attending a tertiary care hospital

Methods: This cohort study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMMMCH, Sukkur, over six months after approval of synopsis. 160 pregnant women were consecutively sampled and divided into two equal groups. The 80 obese pregnant women (BMI >30 kg/m²) in the last trimester were the exposed group and the 80 pregnant women with normal BMI were the unexposed group. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25. Association was determined by the calculation of relative risk.

Results: The mean age of the obese group was 28.6 ± 5.1 years and the mean age of normal BMI group was 27.9 ± 4.8 years. Caesarean section was performed in 20 (25.0%) obese women and 8 (10.0%) women with normal BMI, with relative risk of 2.50 (95% CI: 1.17–5.34; p=0.021). Antepartum haemorrhage was observed in 8 (10.0%) obese women and 3 (3.8%) women with normal BMI, with relative risk of 2.67 (95% CI: 0.73–9.69; p=0.210). Overall adverse feto-maternal outcome was observed in 32 (40.0%) obese women and 14 (17.5%) women with normal BMI, with relative risk of 2.29 (95% CI: 1.32–3.95; p=0.003).

Conclusion: Caesarean section, antepartum haemorrhage, macrosomia, and overall adverse outcomes were more frequent among obese pregnant women as compared to women with normal BMI.