Associations of Preconception Body Weight, Body Mass Index, and Hypertension with Preeclampsia

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
• Optimizing preconception health is a critical strategy for preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of preconception factors on preeclampsia is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between preconception maternal body weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure with the incidence of preeclampsia.
• To examine the relationship between these preconception factors and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 11,214 live births from 6 months preconception to 6 months postpartum (2009-2018).
• Statistical analyses included chi-square, ANOVA, t-tests, and binary logistic regression.
• Outcomes were compared between women with and without preeclampsia.

Main Results:

• 13.7% of births were complicated by preeclampsia.
• Women with preeclampsia had higher preconception weight and blood pressure.
• Prepregnancy systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥130 mmHg increased preeclampsia likelihood 3.2-fold (aOR=3.24).
• Prepregnancy BMI ≥30 kg/m² increased preeclampsia likelihood 2.3-fold (aOR=2.31).
• Preeclamptic mothers had higher rates of preterm delivery, low Apgar scores, and lower birthweights.

Conclusions:

• Maternal obesity and elevated blood pressure in the preconception period are significantly associated with preeclampsia.
• These factors contribute to adverse maternal and fetal complications during pregnancy.
• Emphasizing preconception health, including weight management and blood pressure control, is crucial for reducing preeclampsia incidence and improving pregnancy outcomes.