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Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Risk Factors Associated With Intrauterine Growth Restriction: A Case-Control Study
Priyanka Dapkekar1, Anuja Bhalerao1, Anjali Kawathalkar1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Nagpur, IND.
Insights
Low socioeconomic status, anemia, and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are key risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Identifying these can help reduce IUGR incidence and improve newborn health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatal Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects approximately 24% of newborns globally, leading to increased risks of postnatal morbidity and mortality.
- IUGR is defined as a birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age, indicating failure to reach genetic growth potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric risk factors associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 54 cases (neonates with IUGR) and 54 controls (neonates with appropriate birth weight) was conducted.
- Data on socio-demographic, medical, and obstetric parameters were collected through detailed history taking and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Low socioeconomic status was significantly associated with IUGR, particularly in the 21-25 age group.
- Maternal anemia (29.6%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (22.2%) were identified as significant risk factors for IUGR.
- No significant differences were found in past medical or obstetric histories between cases and controls.
Conclusions:
- Low socioeconomic status contributes to IUGR through poor living conditions, low literacy, and nutritional deficiencies, leading to conditions like anemia and hypertension.
- Maternal health factors, specifically anemia and hypertensive disorders, are potent risk factors for IUGR.
- Birth weight at delivery is a crucial indicator for assessing IUGR risk and potential adverse outcomes.
Abstract:
Background Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a disorder in which the fetus fails to reach its genetic development potential and is considered to be present when the weight at birth is less than the 10th percentile; as a result, it is at risk of increased postnatal morbidity and mortality. Every year, approximately 24% of newborns worldwide are determined to have IUGR. The objective of the present study was to identify various sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric risk factors associated with IUGR. Methodology A case-control study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022. Fifty-four cases and 54 controls were included in the study. Postnatal women with neonates having birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age (GA) were recruited as cases in the study. Control cases were postnatal women with neonatal birth weight appropriate for (GA). Detailed history with respect to socio-demographic, medical, and obstetric parameters was noted and compared. Results Among the sociodemographic factors, only socioeconomic status showed significant statistical differences with the age group of 21 to 25 years showing maximum (51.9%) IUGR cases. Among the maternal risk factors, anemia (29.6%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (22.2%) were marked as significant risk factors for IUGR. There was no significant difference in the distribution of past medical and obstetric histories between the two research groups. Conclusion Due to the poor living conditions, low literacy rates, and general lack of knowledge, low socioeconomic level increases the risk of IUGR. This leads to nutritional deficiencies and insufficient growth environment which results in anemia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy which are potent risk factors for IUGR. IUGR may be caused by maternal risk factors as well as past medical and obstetric conditions. However, for the risk factor of IUGR, the birth weight at the time of delivery could be taken into consideration as well.
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