Risk Factors for foetal macrosomia among UAE nationals

ABSTRACT

This study aims to identify maternal risk factors for macrosomia, in order to alert the attending obstetrician to increase probability of foetal macrosomia and its complications among UAE obstetric population. A retrospective controlled study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Tawam Hospital, a tertiary referral centre in United Arab Emirates. Five thousand four hundred and four mothers delivered in the period of the study between January 1st 1998 to December 31st 2000. 271 mothers [5.01%] delivered at >/= 37 weeks of gestation macrosomic babies [birth weight >/= 4000 gm]. 285 women delivered at >/= 37 weeks of gestation non-macrosomic foetuses in the same period of time were included as a control group. The mothers of 36.5% of these babies had gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM]. There was a statistically significant higher incidence of GDM, obesity, increased maternal age, male neonatal sex, previous history of macrosomia and prolonged pregnancy among mothers of macrosomic babies when compared to control group [P maternal age and weight, multiparity, male neonatal sex, previous history of macrosomia and prolonged pregnancy are all identified risk factors for fetal macrosomia in this population