Impact of maternal underweight on obstetric and neonatal prognosis: A retrospective study. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Salmon, Capucine; Thibon, Pascal; Prime, Ludovic; Renouf, Solène; Dreyfus, Michel; Dolley, Patricia
• Is Part Of: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. Volume 260(2021)
• Page Start: 6
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: BMI Body Mass Index -- WA Weeks of Amenorhea; Underweight -- Neonatal issues -- Obstetrical complications -- Preterm birth -- Thinness; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Obstétrique -- Périodiques; Gynécologie -- Périodiques; Reproduction -- Périodiques; Verloskunde; Gynaecologie; Voortplanting (biologie); Gynecology; Obstetrics; Reproduction; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.12.040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-2115

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Maternal underweight (BMI < 18.5) is an uncommon situation with potentially serious obstetric consequences, though data in the literature are scarce. Objective: To compare the obstetrical prognosis of patients with normal BMI and BMI < 18.5. Study design: We performed a retrospective study in France (Normandy). Results: We included 14, 246 patients between January 2011 and November 2017, among whom 12, 648 (88.8 %) had normal BMI, 1269 were considered mild underweight (17 ≤ BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) and 329 (2.3 %) were considered severe to moderate underweight (BMI < 17 kg/m²). The risk of preterm birth was all the greater as the thinness was severe (ORa: 1.34 [1.12−1.60] and ORa 1.77 [1.31−2.34]) and the risk of intrauterine growth retardation also increased with severe thinness (ORa: 1.63 [1.35−1.96] and ORa 2.28 [1.69−3.07]). The risk of a caesarean section or scheduled labour was no different. Neonatal parameters were comparable between the groups. Conclusion: Our study confirms an increased risk of preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation with increased thinness after adjusting for confounding factors. This link had only been shown previously in 2 studies Neither the type of prematurity (induced or spontaneous) nor the severity of prematurity is influenced by the severity of thinness; however, the low prevalence of thinness limits the power of these data. It would be interesting to study the medico-economic relevance of a policy of close maternal-foetal surveillance in this target population.