title: Hemoglobin levels in normal-weight and obese patients during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is a difference in hemoglobin levels in normal-weight patients compared with obese women during the second trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of hemoglobin levels in the second trimester of pregnancy from 2009 to 2010 in 46 primarily indigent patients (23 normal weight and 23 obese) using the current body mass index classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in demographic and baseline characteristics between the two study groups except for body mass index as expected (p < 0.001). Mean second trimester hemoglobin levels in the obese group (10.8 g/dL) were 6.1% (0.7 g/dL) lower compared with normal-weight patients (mean 11.5 g/dL, p = 0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Second trimester hemoglobin levels are lower in obese patients when compared to their normal weight counterparts. These lower levels in obese patients may be clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, and Bayfront Medical Center, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Crabb
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chamberlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins