Rate of gestational weight gain and adverse pregnancy outcomes in rural nulliparous women: a prospective cohort analysis from China

Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women: a meta-analysis

Objective

This study examined the associated risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes among Chinese females and furnished some fundamental principles and recommendations for enhanced prevention of adverse pregnancy and preservation of women's well-being.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted by retrieving the MEDLINE (The National Library of Medicine), Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases. The relevant risk factors for adverse pregnancy in Chinese women were retrieved from May 2017 to April 2023. Use Review Manager for data analysis. Calculate the merge effect based on data attributes using mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (or) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The meta-analysis was registered at INPLASY (International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols, 202340090).

Results

A total of 15 articles were included, with a total of 946,818 Chinese pregnant women. Moreover, all the literature was scored by the NOS (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale), and all literatures were ≥7 points, which were evaluated as high quality. There are seven risk factors related to adverse pregnancy in Chinese women: parity, pregnancy frequency, education level, smoking, gestational diabetes, gestational weeks, and age. Moreover, the main risk factors for adverse pregnancy are pregnancy frequency, education level, gestational diabetes mellitus, and age.

Conclusion

The pregnancy frequency, education level, gestational diabetes mellitus, and age were significantly associated with the adverse pregnancy in Chinese women, whereas gestational weeks, smoking, and parity had no significant effect on adverse pregnancy.

Effect of gestational weight gain on postpartum pelvic floor function in twin primiparas: a single-center retrospective study in China

BACKGROUND

The effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) as a controllable factor during pregnancy pelvic floor function has rarely been investigated, and studies on twin primiparas are even less frequent. The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of GWG on postpartum pelvic floor function in twin primiparas.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 184 twin primiparas in the pelvic floor rehabilitation system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2020 to October 2021. Based on the GWG criteria recommended by the Institute of Medicine, the study subjects were classified into two groups: adequate GWG and excessive GWG. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to explore the relationship between GWG and pelvic floor function.

RESULTS

Among the 184 twin primiparas, 20 (10.87%) had excessive GWG. The rates of abnormal vaginal dynamic pressure (95% vs. 74.39%), injured type I muscle fibers (80% vs. 45.73%), anterior vaginal wall prolapse (90% vs. 68.90%), and stress urinary incontinence (50% vs. 20.12%) of twin primiparas with excessive GWG were significantly higher than those with adequate GWG. There was no significant difference between the total score of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-Short Form 20 (PFDI-20) or the scores of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6 (POPDI-6), the Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory 8 (CRADI-8), and the Urinary Distress Inventory 6 (UDI-6) in the two groups (P > 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the results showed that excessive GWG was positively associated with abnormal vaginal dynamic pressure (OR = 8.038, 95% CI: 1.001-64.514), injured type I muscle fibers (OR = 8.654, 95% CI: 2.462-30.416), anterior vaginal wall prolapse (OR = 4.705, 95% CI: 1.004-22.054), and stress urinary incontinence (OR = 4.424, 95% CI: 1.578-12.403).

CONCLUSION

Excessive GWG in twin primiparas was positively correlated with the prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction but did not exacerbate pelvic floor symptoms in twin primiparas. Controlling GWG within a reasonable range is recommended for reducing the risk of PFDs in pregnant women with twins.

Gestational weight gain during the second and third trimesters and adverse pregnancy outcomes, results from a prospective pregnancy cohort in urban Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Appropriate gestational weight gain (GWG) is important for optimal pregnancy outcomes. This study prospectively evaluated the associations between GWG during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes in an urban Tanzanian pregnancy cohort.

METHODS

We used data from a randomized clinical trial conducted among pregnant women recruited by 27 weeks of gestation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (N = 1230). Women's gestational weight was measured at baseline and at monthly antenatal visits. Weekly GWG rate during the second and third trimesters was calculated and characterized as inadequate, adequate, or excessive, in conjunction with measured or imputed early-pregnancy BMI status according to the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) GWG guidelines. We used multivariable Poisson regression with a sandwich variance estimator to calculate risk ratios (RR) for associations of GWG with low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), and large for gestational age (LGA). Degree of appropriate GWG defined using additional metrics (i.e., percentage of adequacy, z-score) and potential effect modification by maternal BMI were additionally evaluated.

RESULTS

According to the IOM guidelines, 517 (42.0%), 270 (22.0%), and 443 (36.0%) women were characterized as having inadequate, adequate, and excessive GWG, respectively. Overall, compared to women with adequate GWG, women with inadequate GWG had a lower risk of LGA births (RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80) and a higher risk of SGA births (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 0.95-1.81). Women with inadequate GWG as defined by percentage of GWG adequacy had a higher risk of LBW (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.03-3.63). In stratified analyses by early-pregnancy BMI, excessive GWG among women with normal BMI was associated with a higher risk of preterm birth (RR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.03-2.44).

CONCLUSIONS

A comparatively high percentage of excessive GWG was observed among healthy pregnant women in Tanzania. Both inadequate and excessive GWGs were associated with elevated risks of poor pregnancy outcomes. Future studies among diverse SSA populations are warranted to confirm our findings, and clinical recommendations on optimal GWG should be developed to promote healthy GWG in SSA settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered as "Prenatal Iron Supplements: Safety and Efficacy in Tanzania" (NCT01119612; http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01119612 ).

Associations of Gestational Weight Gain Rate During Different Trimesters with Early-Childhood Body Mass Index and Risk of Obesity

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate the associations of gestational weight gain rate (GWGR) during different trimesters with offspring growth and overweight/obesity risk.

METHODS

The study included 4,807 mother-infant pairs enrolled in Wuhan, China. GWGR in each trimester was used as a continuous and a categorical variable to estimate the associations with offspring BMI z score (ZBMI) and overweight/obesity risk between 0 and 2 years.

RESULTS

Greater GWGR (per 0.2 kg/wk) in the first, second, and third trimester was positively associated with offspring ZBMI across birth to 2 years old (β 0.06 [95% CI: 0.04-0.09], β 0.13 [95% CI: 0.09-0.16], and β 0.04 [95% CI: 0.02-0.07], respectively). Excessive GWGR in the first trimester (≥ 0.30 kg/wk) was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.58 (95% CI: 1.18-2.13) and 1.37 (95% CI: 1.11-1.71) for macrosomia and 2-year overweight/obesity, respectively. Excessive GWGR in the second trimester was associated with an OR of 2.09 (95% CI: 1.42-3.08), 1.21 (95% CI: 1.02-1.43), and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.15-1.90) for macrosomia, 1-year, and 2-year overweight/obesity, respectively. Excessive GWGR in the third trimester was associated with an OR of 1.91 (95% CI: 1.27-2.86) and 1.32 (95% CI: 1.02-1.72) for macrosomia and 2-year overweight/obesity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive GWGR in each trimester was positively associated with offspring ZBMI and early-childhood overweight/obesity risk.

Antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE

To identify antenatal and intrapartum risk factors for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

STUDY DESIGN

A single center, retrospective cohort study was conducted for 25,494 singleton births ≥36 weeks' gestation born between 2009 and 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for HIE.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven infants met HIE inclusion criteria. Independent antenatal risk factors included primigravida, previous fetal death/stillbirth, antidepressant use, illicit drug use, Rh sensitization, and adjusted gestational weight gain >13.6 kg. Independent intrapartum risk factors identified were placental abruption, ruptured uterus, moderate-to-heavy meconium stained amniotic fluid, and delivery by cesarean-section. An intrapartum risk factor was present in 70.3% of the HIE group compared with 29.6% of the non-HIE group.

CONCLUSION

Intrapartum period risk factors appear to be important for the development of HIE. Gestational weight gain may serve as an important modifiable factor to reduce the risk of HIE.