Is International or Asian Criteria-based Body Mass Index Associated with Maternal Anaemia, Low Birthweight, and Preterm Births among Thai Population? - An Observational Study

Abstract

An observational study was conducted in the four southernmost provinces of Thailand aiming at determining the effect of international or Asian criteria-based body mass index (BMI) in predicting maternal anaemia, low birthweight (LBW), and preterm births among pregnant Thai women and the change in haemoglobin (Hb) level during pregnancy. Maternal anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin (Hb) level of <11 g/dL. Anaemia was detected in 27.4% and 26.9% of 1,192 pregnant women at their first prenatal visit and the third trimester respectively. The proportions of overweight and obese women according to the Asian criteria-based pre-pregnancy BMI were higher than the international criteria-based BMI (22.4% and 10.1% vs 15.5% and 3.4% respectively). No significant difference between pre-pregnancy BMI and pregnancy BMI at the first prenatal visit was demonstrated (mean±standard deviation=21.8±4.0 vs 22.8±4.1). Underweight women had a significantly higher prevalence of maternal anaemia, LBW, and preterm birth compared to women with normal weight. Overweight and obese women at pre-pregnancy by the Asian criteria-based BMI had a lower prevalence of anaemia. The Hb levels did not change significantly over time. In addition to BMI, maternal age, parity, and late prenatal visit were independently associated with maternal anaemia, low birthweight, and preterm birth. Underweight pregnant women classified by international or Asian criteria-based BMI increased the risk of maternal anaemia, low birthweight, and preterm birth.

A Cross-sectional Study of Resting Cardio-respiratory and Metabolic Changes in Pregnant Women

“…Our study showed that the average value of BMI in the 1st trimester of pregnant women is 22.7 kg.m −2 . This is consistent with Liabsuetrakul T et al8 ) , who studied 485 pregnant women, aged between 13–46 years with a gestational age of < 14 weeks, and reported their average value of BMI was about 22.4 kg.m −2 . In contrast, more than 50% of pregnant women in the United States have a BMI greater than 25.13 kg.m −2 9 ) .…”

Maternal body mass index and risk of birth and maternal health outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…There were 34 prospective cohorts and eight retrospective cohorts. Of the 42 studies, 16 reported preterm birth , 18 low birthweight , seven small for gestational age , five stillbirth , 19 gestational diabetes , nine pregnancy‐induced hypertension , nine pre‐eclampsia , 10 caesarean delivery , three post‐partum haemorrhage and two perinatal mortality . The study‐specific proportion of BMI and events by perinatal and maternal health outcomes are presented in Supporting Information http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.12293/suppinfo.…”

“…There were 34 prospective cohorts and eight retrospective cohorts. Of the 42 studies, 16 reported preterm birth (5,9,10,(13)(14)(15)(16)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46), 18 low birthweight (7,10,11,14,15,39,(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53), seven small for gestational age (9,17,39,41,44,54,55), five stillbirth (9,15,16,44,56), 19 gestational diabetes (5,6,9,12,13,…”

Evaluation the anemia status among preeclamptic pregnants in hospital inpatients from Sanliurfa, Turkey

“…When examining other factors possibly influencing the development of anemia in pregnancy, published reports have indicated that conditions such as the women's age, 19 education status, 20 nutritional habits, [6] smoking status [21], gravidity [22], parity [23], and the interval between consecutive pregnancies [24] may play a role.…”