[Obstetrical complications of morbid obesity].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether morbidly obese women have an increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcome.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, 2472 women with morbid obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) more than 40 were compared with normal weight women (BMI 20-25). Fisher and Student tests were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
In the group of morbidly obese mothers (BMI greater than 40) as compared with the normal weight mothers, there was an increased risk of the following outcomes: gravidic hypertension (7.7 vs 0.5%; p<0.05). preeclampsia (11.5 vs 2%; p<0.05), gestational diabetes (15.4 vs 1.8%; p<0.05), cesarean delivery (50 vs 15.4%; p<0.05), and macrosomia (42.3 vs 10.3%; p<0.05). However, we noted a lower rate of prematurity in the obese group (0 vs 11%). Even when morbidly obese women with preexisting diabetes and chronic hypertension were excluded from the analysis, significant differences in the perinatal outcomes still persisted.


CONCLUSIONS
Morbid obesity appears to be an independent risk factor for perinatal and gestational complications.
Grossetti
E
E
Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique et Médecine de la Reproduction.
Beucher
G
G
Régeasse
A
A
Lamendour
N
N
Herlicoviez
M
M
Dreyfus
M
M
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002585:Cesarean Section; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors