The relationship between preterm birth and underweight in Asian women

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Preterm birth (PTB) poses a significant challenge, especially in Asia, with the Indian subcontinent having the highest rates.
• Maternal underweight is prevalent in developing nations, contrasting with the global obesity epidemic.
• Previous studies in developed countries suggested a link between maternal underweight and PTB, but findings in Asian populations are inconsistent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review epidemiological studies on the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and PTB risk in Asian women.
• To highlight the challenges in comparing studies due to varying BMI cut-off points for defining maternal underweight.
• To propose a standardized approach for evaluating maternal underweight and PTB risk in Asian populations.

Main Methods:

• A review of existing epidemiological studies examining the relationship between maternal BMI and PTB in Asian women.
• Analysis of reported associations between low maternal BMI and preterm birth risk.
• Identification of inconsistencies in BMI cut-off points used to define maternal underweight across studies.

Main Results:

• The review indicated no statistically significant association between low maternal BMI and preterm birth in Asian women.
• A major limitation identified was the inconsistent use of BMI cut-off points for defining underweight across studies.
• This inconsistency hinders direct comparison and accurate risk assessment.

Conclusions:

• The association between maternal underweight and preterm birth in Asian women requires further investigation using consistent methodologies.
• It is recommended to implement country-specific BMI cut-off points for defining underweight in Asian women.
• Standardized definitions are crucial for accurately evaluating PTB risk factors in diverse populations.