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Pre-pregnancy obesity compromises obstetric and neonatal outcomes

  • Katharina Hancke EMAIL logo , Theresa Gundelach , Birgit Hay , Sylvia Sander , Frank Reister and Jürgen M. Weiss
Published/Copyright: June 25, 2014
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
From the journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Volume 43 Issue 2

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is an important issue among fertile women as it may affect obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of primiparous women were retrospectively analyzed in non-obese (n=11387) and obese (n=943) women. A subgroup analysis was performed in obese women divided into three groups: Grade I obesity (Group A, n=654), Grade II obesity (Group B, n=192), and Grade III obesity (Group C, n=97). Odds ratios (OR) were expressed with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The incidence of gestational diabetes (non-obese, 1.9%; obese, 7.6%; Group C, 19.6%) and preeclampsia (non-obese, 3.3%; obese, 13.5%; Group C, 17.5%) increased with rising weight. The risk of non-elective cesarean section was significantly higher in obese women than in non-obese women (21.7% vs. 13.2%). The risk of extreme preterm birth (before 28 weeks of gestation) doubled in the Grade I obesity group (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4–3.2) and nearly tripled in women with body mass index ≥35 kg/m2 (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7–4.9).

Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with higher incidences of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Our study shows that obese women have a higher risk of non-elective cesarean section and preterm birth.

Keywords: Neonatal outcome; obesity; obstetric outcome; preeclampsia
Corresponding author: Katharina Hancke, MD, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstr. 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany, Tel.: +0049 (0) 731 50058582, Fax: +0049 (0) 731 50058664, E-mail:

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The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Received: 2014-2-25
Accepted: 2014-5-26
Published Online: 2014-6-25
Published in Print: 2015-3-1

©2015 by De Gruyter

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Academy’s Corner
  3. Obstetrical Doppler: the evidence today
  4. Review article
  5. Fetal complications due to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
  6. Original articles – Obstetrics
  7. Pre-pregnancy obesity compromises obstetric and neonatal outcomes
  8. Novel application of three-dimensional HDlive imaging in prenatal diagnosis from the first trimester
  9. Placental gene expression of inflammatory markers and growth factors – a case control study of obese and normal weight women
  10. Haemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in pregnant women with acquired and congenital cardiac disease
  11. Intrapartum ultrasound prior to Kristeller maneuver: an observational study
  12. Interinstitutional variations in mode of birth after a previous caesarean section: a cross-sectional study in six German hospitals
  13. Use of the angle of progression on ultrasonography to predict spontaneous onset of labor within 7 days
  14. Study of the relationship in pregnant women between hepatitis B markers and a placenta positive for hepatitis B surface antigen
  15. Sarcoidosis and pregnancy: obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in a population-based cohort of 7 million births
  16. Original articles – Fetus
  17. MR imaging of the fetal brain at 1.5T and 3.0T field strengths: comparing specific absorption rate (SAR) and image quality
  18. Sex differences in the fetal heart rate variability indices of twins
  19. Original articles – Newborn
  20. Correlation of neonatal weight with maternal serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A during the first trimester of pregnancy: a retrospective study
  21. Antenatal testing in uncomplicated pregnancies: should testing be initiated after 40 or 41 weeks?
  22. Low total IgM values and high cytomegalovirus loads in the blood of newborns with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection
  23. Associated anomalies in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: perinatal characteristics and impact on postnatal survival
  24. The value of lipopolysaccharide binding protein for diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants
  25. Is there a stepwise increase in neonatal morbidities according to histological stage (or grade) of acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis?: effect of gestational age at delivery
  26. Commentary
  27. Thrombophilia testing in pregnancy: should we agree to disagree?
  28. Congress Calendar
  29. Congress Calendar
https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2014-0069
Keywords for this article
Neonatal outcome; obesity; obstetric outcome; preeclampsia

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Academy’s Corner
  3. Obstetrical Doppler: the evidence today
  4. Review article
  5. Fetal complications due to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
  6. Original articles – Obstetrics
  7. Pre-pregnancy obesity compromises obstetric and neonatal outcomes
  8. Novel application of three-dimensional HDlive imaging in prenatal diagnosis from the first trimester
  9. Placental gene expression of inflammatory markers and growth factors – a case control study of obese and normal weight women
  10. Haemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in pregnant women with acquired and congenital cardiac disease
  11. Intrapartum ultrasound prior to Kristeller maneuver: an observational study
  12. Interinstitutional variations in mode of birth after a previous caesarean section: a cross-sectional study in six German hospitals
  13. Use of the angle of progression on ultrasonography to predict spontaneous onset of labor within 7 days
  14. Study of the relationship in pregnant women between hepatitis B markers and a placenta positive for hepatitis B surface antigen
  15. Sarcoidosis and pregnancy: obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in a population-based cohort of 7 million births
  16. Original articles – Fetus
  17. MR imaging of the fetal brain at 1.5T and 3.0T field strengths: comparing specific absorption rate (SAR) and image quality
  18. Sex differences in the fetal heart rate variability indices of twins
  19. Original articles – Newborn
  20. Correlation of neonatal weight with maternal serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A during the first trimester of pregnancy: a retrospective study
  21. Antenatal testing in uncomplicated pregnancies: should testing be initiated after 40 or 41 weeks?
  22. Low total IgM values and high cytomegalovirus loads in the blood of newborns with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection
  23. Associated anomalies in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: perinatal characteristics and impact on postnatal survival
  24. The value of lipopolysaccharide binding protein for diagnosis of late-onset neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants
  25. Is there a stepwise increase in neonatal morbidities according to histological stage (or grade) of acute chorioamnionitis and funisitis?: effect of gestational age at delivery
  26. Commentary
  27. Thrombophilia testing in pregnancy: should we agree to disagree?
  28. Congress Calendar
  29. Congress Calendar
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