The features of the pregnancy in women with term delivery and iron deficiency anemia of varying severity

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects up to 40% of pregnant women. Purpose of the study – to evaluate the impact of varying IDA severity on pregnancy and delivery terminations and neonatal status at term delivery. A retrospective study was conducted involving 263 pregnant women who delivered at term. Based on hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the third trimester, patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 – mild IDA (n=217), Group 2 – moderate IDA (n=43), and Group 3 – severe IDA (n=10). Pregnancy course, method of delivery, and neonatal status were compared. Significant differences in Hb levels were observed between the groups throughout pregnancy (p<0.001). In severe IDA, the incidence of hypertensive disorders (30% vs 5.5%, p=0.010) and oligohydramnios (50% vs 4.1%, p<0.001) was higher compared to mild IDA, and the incidence of chorioamnionitis was 10 times higher compared to other groups (p=0.005). With increasing IDA severity, neonatal birth weight significantly decreased (Group 1=3430 g, Group 2=3250 g, Group 3=3270 g; p<0.001). Women with severe IDA required parenteral iron therapy 30 times more often (33.3% vs 0.5%, p<0.001) and blood transfusion 25 times more often (70% vs 2.8%, p<0.001) than those with mild IDA. The results demonstrate that increasing severity of IDA is associated with a higher incidence of hypertensive disorders, oligohydramnios, infectious complications, reduced neonatal birth weight, and a significantly increased need for parenteral iron therapy and blood transfusion.