Neonatal outcomes in obese pregnant women who develop preeclampsia

Obesity and preeclampsia in pregnant women are each independently associated with poorer neonatal outcomes. We study obesity and preeclampsia alone and also in combination in pregnant women to determine their association with neonatal outcomes.

This retrospective study (n = 664) compared four groups: 1) no preeclampsia/no obesity, 2) no preeclampsia/yes obesity, 3) yes preeclampsia/no obesity, and 4) yes preeclampsia/yes obesity. The primary outcome was neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Secondary outcomes were low birth weight, low Apgar 1 score, and low Apgar 5 score.

Those with yes preeclampsia/yes obesity (OR:3.06, 95% CI:1.76, 5.32, p < 0.001) and those with yes preeclampsia/no obesity (OR:1.98, 95% CI:1.03, 3.80, p < 0.05) each had significantly higher odds for NICU admission. Those with no preeclampsia/yes obesity were not associated with NICU admission. Yes preeclampsia/yes obesity did not have any significant association with low birth weight, low Apgar 1 score, and low Apgar 5 score.

Patients with preeclampsia alone or preeclampsia/obesity combined are associated with higher odds for NICU admission. However, obesity alone without preeclampsia is not associated with NICU admission. This knowledge can allow the Pediatric service prior to delivery to prepare and mitigate potential poor neonatal complications.