Pregnancy complications related to obesity in Shahrood

According to various studies, obese women, have an increased risk of a number of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Worryingly, the prevalence of obesity is rising during pregnancy. The present study was done to determine the incidence of obesity and its relationship to pregnancy complications. In this prospective study, all pregnant women in their early stage were referred to women’s clinic of Fatemiyeh Hospital by all health care centers and private clinics as soon as diagnosed. Obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m² or more. So, pregnant women were divided into obese and non-obese cases according to BMI. All the women had no previous systematic diseases and received routine prenatal care until their labor. Demographic and pregnancy data were obtained on arrival and were recorded in special files; and the cases’ economic status was determined by means of a special checklist. The obtained data was analysed by means of non-parametric variance analysis of, chi-square, Fisher exact t- test, Mann Whitney U, linear regression, and correlation co-efficient; and P≤0.05 was taken as the significant level. Totally 1194 pregnant women were studied. Prevalence of obesity was %13 (162 pregnant women). Obese women were older and had more childbirth. According to variance analysis and confounding factors including age and parity, obesity was found to be an independent factor in the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (P<0.001), gestational hypertension (P<0.01) and hydramnios (P<0.001) as well. Cesarean rate in obese women was greater and significant (P<0.001). Results confirmed that despite appropriate prenatal care, obesity was associated with an increase in pregnancy complications. So in order to improve the quality of care, pre-conceptual care is recommended. Weight losing, as an easy and inexpensive procedure in women who refer to the health centers to receive health care and family planning service, is essential and is recommended.