Impacts of maternal obesity on pregnancy and neonatal outcome: A Retrospective cohort study (2018-2022).

Abstract Background Maternal Obesity has emerged as a significant global health concern. Obese women in reproductive age carries significant risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Objectives The study aim to evaluate the point prevalence of maternal obesity and its impact on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Methods This was retrospective cohort study done at Dubai and Latifa hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 2018–2022. Inclusion criteria were primiparous women, age 20-30years, singleton pregnancy with no past uterine surgeries or pre-existing medical conditions. They were divided into Non-obese (BMI ≤ 30 kg/m²) and Obese ((BMI > 30 kg/m²). Primary outcome assessed were antenatal complication (gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm premature rupture of membranes), delivery outcome (mode of delivery and blood loss) and neonatal outcome (gestational age at delivery, Apgar score, and neonatal intensive care admission). Results Among the study population, more than half of the pregnant women (53.4%) were classified as obese with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m². Obesity was significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including a higher incidence of gestational hypertension(p = 0.003), gestational diabetes(p = 0.014), pre-eclampsia(p = 0.022), caesarian section(p = 0.001), preterm delivery(p = 0.012) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions(p = 0.015). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between increasing obesity class and a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage. Conclusion Our study reveals that in our population 53.4% of women entered their pregnancy with obesity, demonstrating significant pregnancy and neonatal complication. These finding underscore the critical need for targeted intervention to address obesity in pregnancy protocols to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.