Background: Studies have shown an increased risk of maternal and neonatal complications in pregnant women who are obese. Gestational diabetes itself is also an independent risk factor for complications during peri-partum period. An association between maternal BMI and risk in women with Gestational diabetes is less understood.
Aim: We investigated the relationship between maternal BMI and the risk of adverse outcomes for both mother and child in women with gestational diabetes.
Method: We performed a retrospective review of medical records on 242 women with gestational diabetes who had live births, admitted to a metropolitan for delivery between the 1st of May 2012 and the 20th of April 2013. Maternal BMI was calculated at the first antenatal booking visit.
Maternal outcomes including pre-eclampsia, premature rupture of membrane, intra-partum hypoglycaemia and type of delivery; and neonatal outcomes including jaundice, jaundice requiring phototherapy, hypoglycaemia requiring IV treatment and macrosomia (defined as >4000g) were examined.
Results: Maternal BMI was classified according to the WHO guidelines. BMI at antenatal booking visit is shown in the table below:
|
Underweight (BMI < 18.5) |
8 (3.3%) |
|
Normal (18.5-24.99) |
65 (26.6%) |
|
Overweight (25 – 29.9) |
46 (19%) |
|
Obese Moderate (30 – 34.99) |
46 (19%) |
|
Obese Severe (35 – 39.9) |
33 (13.6%) |
|
Obese Very Severe (>40) |
44 (18.1%) |
To our surprise in our small study population maternal BMI at first antenatal visit did not appear to be significantly associated with risk of adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes. Full results will be displayed on our poster.
Conclusion: This relationship between maternal BMI and risk requires further investigation in a larger study population as there is an increase in prevalence of obesity and gestational diabetes in child-bearing women.