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A Neonatal BALB/c Mouse Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Published on: November 30, 2021
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Maternal body mass index and necrotizing enterocolitis: A case-control study.
Katherine Stumpf1, Priya Sharma1, L Steven Brown2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 24, 2024
Summary
Maternal overweight, but not obesity, was associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. Higher rates of overweight and obese mothers in the study population may have limited the ability to detect associations with maternal obesity and NEC.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is a modifiable risk factor that may influence neonatal outcomes.
- Understanding the relationship between maternal BMI and NEC is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
- To determine if maternal overweight or obesity is a significant risk factor for NEC development.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study involving 291 infants (97 NEC cases, 194 controls) born before 33 weeks gestation.
- Maternal BMI was categorized as normal, overweight, or obese.
- Statistical analysis included chi-square and stepwise logistic regression; power analysis confirmed sufficient sample size.
Main Results:
- Stepwise logistic regression revealed an association between NEC and maternal overweight (BMI 25-29.9), but not maternal obesity (BMI ≥30).
- Several other maternal factors, including hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, were not significantly associated with NEC.
- Power analysis indicated the study was adequately powered to detect associations between NEC and maternal BMI categories.
Conclusions:
- Maternal overweight status at delivery was associated with an increased risk of NEC in preterm infants.
- No significant association was found between maternal obesity and NEC in this cohort.
- Higher prevalence of overweight and obese mothers in the study population compared to national averages may have limited the detection of a significant association with maternal obesity and NEC.
