ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy on adverse perinatal outcomes.

This retrospective study was conducted with patients who delivered in Tepecik Training and Research Hospital between July 2014 and November 2014. The study population was consisted of singleton pregnancies monitored in our department. Patients with chronic systemic illnesses were excluded from the study. BMI was calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by the height (m) squared. The study population was categorized into four groups according to their BMI before pregnancy as follows: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2). Perinatal outcomes of different groups were compared.

Eight hundred and nine pregnant women included in the study were categorized as underweight (n: 75), normal weight (n: 561), overweight (n: 167) and obese (n: 46). The association of BMI with perinatal outcomes were determined by multiple regression analysis. After adjustment of maternal age, parity, smoking, infertility treatment and hospital admission, it is found that obese group was statistically significantly associated with gestational diabetes (OR: 1.15, %95CI: 0.96-1.34, p<0.001), preeclampsia (OR: 1.81, %95CI: 1.46-2.37, p=0.008), cesarean delivery (OR: 1.44, %95CI: 1.04-1.84, p=0.021) and macrosomia (OR: 1.95, %95CI: 1.24-2.66, p=0.004).

Women who are obese are at increased risk of developing preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery and fetal macrosomia in pregnancy.

Keywords: Body mass index, obese, pregnancy