Effects of obesity on pregnancy and its outcome

ABSTRACT

The objective of study was to find out adverse effects of obesity on pregnancy. A case - control study comparing outcome of pregnancy in obese women with a control group of non obese. Obstetrics unit of Military Hospital Rawalpindi from 20th December 2004 to March 2006. The study included 100 obese ladies with body mass index [BMI] 28-35 and 100 non obese ladies with BMI 18-25. Pregnancy in obese women associated with increased risk of complications. These women had a higher frequency of pregnancy-induced hypertension [RR 1.75; 95% CI 1.08 - 2.81] and gestational diabetes mellitus [RR 3.0; 95% CI 1.13 - 7.94], a higher cesarean section rate [RR 1.78; 95% CI 1.91 - 2.67], increase in postpartum hemorrhage [RR 3.50; 95% CI 1.19 - 10.27] and higher babies weight [RR 2.83; 95% CI 1.50 - 5.15]. This study concluded that obese woman were at high risk of antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum complications with an increased risk of operative delivery