RESUMO
BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the effect of preeclampsia on body mass index (BMI) of offspring who were exposed to preeclampsia in utero. METHODS: Data were obtained from studies identified by a literature search in electronic databases. Random-effects metanalyses were conducted to achieve mean difference in BMI, waist circumference, gestation length, and birthweight between preeclampsia exposed (PE) and non-exposed (non-PE) offspring older than 5â¯years. Metaregression analyses were performed to identify factors affecting offspring BMI. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (11639 PE offspring; age 15.5â¯years [14.2, 16.8]; 33.3% [32.6, 33.9] males vs 526,576 non-PE offspring; age 15.7â¯years [15.0, 16.4]; 42.6% [40.6, 44.5] male) were used. Gestation duration and birthweight of PE fetuses were significantly lesser than those of non-PE fetuses (mean difference (MD) -0.66â¯weeks [-1.25, -0.07]; pâ¯=â¯0.03 and MD -207.9 [-344.0, -71.8]; pâ¯=â¯0.003) respectively. BMI of PE offspring was significantly higher than non-PE offspring (MD 0.54â¯kg/m2 [0.27, 0.82]; pâ¯=â¯0.0001). Odds of being obese was significantly higher in PE than non-PE offspring (odds ratio 2.12 [1.70, 2.66]; Pâ¯<â¯0.00001). Waist circumference was also significantly higher in PE than in non-PE offspring (MD 1.37â¯cm [0.67, 2.06]; pâ¯=â¯0.0001). Offspring BMI was significantly inversely associated with maternal age in both PE and non-PE groups. CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia poses risk of higher BMI and waist circumference especially to the offspring of older mothers.