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Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Infant Mortality in 38 U.S. States, 2012-2013

Eugene Declercq1, Marian MacDorman, Howard Cabral

  • 1Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; and the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
|March 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is strongly linked to infant mortality. Focusing on reducing obesity in women of reproductive age may help lower infant death rates.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is a critical factor in maternal and infant health.
  • Understanding the relationship between maternal BMI and infant mortality is essential for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and infant mortality.
  • To determine if adherence to recommended prenatal weight gain mitigates the BMI-infant mortality relationship.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study analyzed U.S. national linked birth and infant death files (2012-2013).
  • Included over 6.4 million singleton births and 36,691 infant deaths.
  • Categorized prenatal weight gain based on Institute of Medicine recommendations; analyzed neonatal and postneonatal mortality.

Main Results:

  • Higher prepregnancy BMI was significantly associated with increased infant mortality risk.
  • Obesity categories showed elevated odds ratios for infant death, from 1.32 for obese I to 1.73 for obese III.
  • Both lower and higher than recommended weight gain showed a slight, non-significant increase in infant death risk.

Conclusions:

  • Prepregnancy BMI is a strong, independent risk factor for infant mortality.
  • Reducing obesity among women of reproductive age is a potential strategy to decrease infant mortality rates.
  • Further research may explore the complex interplay of BMI, weight gain, and infant outcomes.
Abstract

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