title: Macrosomic and low birth weight neonates in Pacific Islanders from Samoa: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the perinatal morbidity and mortality of macrosomic (>4500 g) and low birth weight (LBW) (<2500 g) neonates in a Pacific Islander population (PIP) from Samoa compared to a Caucasian population (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study. Clinical data were extracted by chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 3166 (PIP) and 2101 (CP) deliveries, macrosomia was more prevalent and LBW less prevalent in the PIP [76/3166 (2.4 %) vs. 21/2101 (0.9 %); p < 0.0001 and 149/3166 (4.7 %) vs. 163/2101 (7.7 %); p < 0.0001, respectively]. Among macrosomic neonates, perinatal mortality and composite severe neonatal morbidity (CNM) were higher in the PIP compared to the CP [2/76 (3 %) vs. 0/21 (0 %) and 6/76 (7 %) vs. 1/21 (4 %), respectively]. Among LBW neonates, mortality, but not CNM, was significantly higher in the PIP [16/149 (7 %) vs. 2/163 (1 %), p < 0.0001 and 10/149 (6 %) vs. 5/163 (3 %), p = 0.2, respectively]. The proportion of macrosomic neonates transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was significantly higher in the PIP [50/76 (65 %) vs. 0/21 (0 %), p < 0.0001]. Age, body mass index, and delivery mode did not independently predict CNM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Samoan women have higher rates of macrosomia and lower rates of LBW compared to Caucasians, suggesting an anthropomorphic basis of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruhr University Bochum-Marienhospital Herne, Hoelkeskampring 40, 44625, Herne, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsitas
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Department, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Bernd C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Department, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oehler
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruhr University Bochum-Marienhospital Herne, Hoelkeskampring 40, 44625, Herne, Germany. clemens.tempfer@marienhospital-herne.de.
authors.forename: Clemens B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tempfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D054238:Perinatal Mortality / Q000208:ethnology; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018947:Samoa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000095188:Pacific Island People
keywords: Low birth weight; Macrosomia; Pacific Islanders; Perinatal mortality