title: Pre-pregnancy maternal obesity in Greece: A case-control analysis.
abstract: Pre-pregnancy obesity may cause significant health implications for both mother and neonate. Our study aims to investigate the association between pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and the risk for cesarean section, admission to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, macrosomia and preterm delivery, in a Mediterranean country.
  
  
  METHODS
  A matched retrospective case control analysis was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included all pregnant women (with known Body Mass Index data) who gave birth in the University Hospital of Patras between 1st of January 2003 and 31st of December 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were defined as obese (338) or overweight (826) women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overweight and obese women were at higher risk for cesarean section, NICU admission and preterm delivery (χ(2)(2)=36.877, p<0.001, χ(2) Imes and Burke (2014) =6.586, p=0.037 and χ(2) Imes and Burke (2014) =7.227, p=0.027 respectively). Neonatal mean birthweight was higher among obese and overweight women (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both obese and overweight pregnancies should be considered as high risk pregnancies, due to more frequent adverse pregnancy outcomes (cesarean delivery, preterm delivery and NICU admission).
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papachatzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paparrodopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.affiliation: NICU, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimitriou
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece. Electronic address: avanta@upatras.gr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vantarakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: BMI; Maternal obesity; Pregnancy outcomes