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. 2013 Nov 20;8(11):e80410.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080410. eCollection 2013.

Maternal obesity in early pregnancy and risk of adverse outcomes

Inmaculada Bautista-Castaño  1 , Patricia Henriquez-Sanchez, Nestor Alemán-Perez, Jose J Garcia-Salvador, Alicia Gonzalez-Quesada, Jose A García-Hernández, Luis Serra-Majem
Affiliations

Maternal obesity in early pregnancy and risk of adverse outcomes

Inmaculada Bautista-Castaño et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

  • Correction: Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy and Risk of Adverse Outcomes.
    Bautista-Castaño I, Henriquez-Sanchez P, Alemán-Perez N, Garcia-Salvador JJ, Gonzalez-Quesada A, García-Hernández JA, Serra-Majem L. Bautista-Castaño I, et al. PLoS One. 2013 Dec 19;8(12):10.1371/annotation/f8605b0a-d01c-41aa-ac9b-b605d7903a28. doi: 10.1371/annotation/f8605b0a-d01c-41aa-ac9b-b605d7903a28. eCollection 2013. PLoS One. 2013. PMID: 29364987 Free PMC article.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the role of the health consequences of maternal overweight and obesity at the start of pregnancy on gestational pathologies, delivery and newborn characteristics.

Methods: A cohort of pregnant women (n = 6.558) having delivered at the Maternal & Child University Hospital of Gran Canaria (HUMIGC) in 2008 has been studied. Outcomes were compared using multivariate analyses controlling for confounding variables.

Results: Compared to normoweight, overweight and obese women have greater risks of gestational diabetes mellitus (RR = 2.13 (95% CI: 1.52-2.98) and (RR = 2.85 (95% CI: 2.01-4.04), gestational hypertension (RR = 2.01 (95% CI: 1.27-3.19) and (RR = 4.79 (95% CI: 3.13-7.32) and preeclampsia (RR = 3.16 (95% CI: 1.12-8.91) and (RR = 8.80 (95% CI: 3.46-22.40). Obese women have also more frequently oligodramnios (RR = 2.02 (95% CI: 1.25-3.27), polyhydramnios. (RR = 1.76 (95% CI: 1.03-2.99), tearing (RR = 1.24 (95% CI: 1.05-1.46) and a lower risk of induced deliveries (RR = 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72-0.95). Both groups have more frequently caesarean section (RR = 1.36 (95% CI: 1.14-1.63) and (RR = 1.84 (95% CI: 1.53-2.22) and manual placenta extraction (RR = 1.65 (95% CI: 1.28-2.11) and (RR = 1.77 (95% CI: 1.35-2.33). Newborns from overweight and obese women have higher weight (p<0.001) and a greater risk of being macrosomic (RR = 2.00 (95% CI: 1.56-2.56) and (RR = 2.74 (95% CI: 2.12-3.54). Finally, neonates from obese mother have a higher risk of being admitted to special care units (RR = 1.34 (95% CI: 1.01-1.77). Apgar 1 min was significantly higher in newborns from normoweight mothers: 8.65 (95% CI: 8.62-8.69) than from overweight: 8.56 (95% CI: 8.50-8.61) or obese mothers: 8.48 (95% CI: 8.41-8.54).

Conclusion: Obesity and overweight status at the beginning of pregnancy increase the adverse outcomes of the pregnancy. It is important to promote the normalization of bodyweight in those women who intend to get pregnant and to provide appropriate advice to the obese women of the risks of obesity at the start of the pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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