title: The impact of body mass index on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a retrospective study in a UK obstetric population, 2004-2011.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and the impact of body mass index (BMI) on maternal and neonatal outcomes, in a UK obstetric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary referral unit in Northern Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 298 singleton pregnancies over an 8-year period, 2004-2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were categorised according to World Health Organization classification: underweight (BMI < 18.50 kg/m(2)); normal weight (BMI 18.50-24.99 kg/m(2); reference group); overweight (BMI 25.00-29.99 kg/m(2)); obese class I (BMI 30.00-34.99 kg/m(2)); obese class II (BMI 35-39.99 kg/m(2)); and obese class III (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined using logistic regression, adjusted for confounding variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal and neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with women of normal weight, women who were overweight or obese class I were at significantly increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 1.9, 99% CI 1.7-2.3; OR 3.5, 99% CI 2.9-4.2); gestational diabetes mellitus (OR 1.7, 99% CI 1.3-2.3; OR 3.7, 99% CI 2.8-5.0); induction of labour (OR 1.2, 99% CI 1.1-1.3; OR 1.3, 99% CI 1.2-1.5); caesarean section (OR 1.4, 99% CI 1.3-1.5; OR 1.8, 99% CI 1.6-2.0); postpartum haemorrhage (OR 1.4, 99% CI 1.3-1.5; OR 1.8, 1.6-2.0); and macrosomia (OR 1.5, 99% CI 1.3-1.6; OR 1.9, 99% CI 1.6-2.2), with the risks increasing for obese classes II and III. Women in obese class III were at increased risk of preterm delivery (OR 1.6, 99% CI 1.1-2.5), stillbirth (OR 3.0, 99% CI 1.0-9.3), postnatal stay > 5 days (OR 2.1, 99% CI 1.5-3.1), and infant requiring admission to a neonatal unit (OR 1.6, 99% CI 1.0-2.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By categorising women into overweight and obesity subclassifications (classes I -III), this study clearly demonstrates an increasing risk of adverse outcomes across BMI categories, with women who are overweight also at significant risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott-Pillai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cardwell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009660:Northern Ireland; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors