Maternal prepregnancy body mass index and delivery of a preterm infant in missouri 1998-2000.
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk of delivering a preterm infant (<37 weeks) in overweight/obese women.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Population-based sample of 169,881 singleton Missouri birth certificate records for 1998-2000.


METHODS
Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI): underweight BMI<19.8; normal BMI=19.8-24.9; overweight BMI=25-29.9; and obese BMI> or =30; and preterm birth (<37 completed weeks' gestation).


RESULTS
In each BMI category, the percent of women who delivered a preterm infant is: underweight 11.5%, normal 8.3%, overweight 8.2%, and obese 8.5%. For women with a BMI of overweight (odds ratio [OR] 0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.8-0.9) and obese (OR 0.8, 95% CI=0.8-0.9), the risk of delivering a preterm infant decreased when compared with women with a BMI<19.8. Black (OR=2.5, 95% CI 2.4-2.6) and Hispanic (OR=1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.5) women had a higher risk of preterm birth than White women when obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and prenatal care were controlled. Women with diabetes (OR=1.4, 95% CI=1.2-1.5), hypertension (OR=3.2, 95% CI=3.1-3.4), and those who smoked (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.6-1.7) were at increased risk for a preterm birth.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that preconception and prenatal care focus on identification and management of risks associated with premature births and maternal risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking.
Johnson
Teresa S
TS
College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. tsj@uwm.edu
Rottier
Kara J
KJ
Luellwitz
Alison
A
Kirby
Russell S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001719:Birth Certificates; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult