title: Impact of maternal obesity on the fetal electrocardiogram during labor.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Maternal obesity affects one in every five women giving birth worldwide. This condition is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, as well as increased morbidity and mortality for mother and offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a prospective study at the University of Pecs Medical Center, Pecs, Hungary, between 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014. We enrolled 60 obese (body mass index >30 kg/m(2)) low-risk pregnant women and 108 age-, ethnicity-, and parity-matched nonobese pregnant control subjects. The ST segment of the fetal electrocardiogram was assessed by STAN® monitoring. Neonatal outcomes and cord gas analysis of the umbilical vessels were evaluated after birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No infant with definitive metabolic acidosis was delivered in either group. We observed 32 and 106 ST events in the obese and control group, respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant. To date, none of the infants delivered as part of this study have demonstrated developmental insufficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity might not influence the fetal electrocardiogram during labor as an independent risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Studies with larger cohort sizes are needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary .
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Racz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary .
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hantosi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary , and.
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marton
authors.affiliation: b Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary , and.
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: c Heart Institute, University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruzsa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary .
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Halvax
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary .
authors.forename: Jozsef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bodis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pecs Clinical Center , Pecs , Hungary .
authors.forename: Balint
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farkas
mesh_terms: D000138:Acidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009765:Obesity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Direct fetal monitoring; ST analysis; STAN®; obesity