Background: Anemia is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and is a significantcontributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries like India. Theseverity of anemia plays a crucial role in determining obstetric and neonatal outcomes.Objectives: To evaluate the impact of varying degrees of anemia in pregnancy on maternal health and perinataloutcomes in a tertiary care setting.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,PMCH, Patna, Bihar, India, from August 2022 to July 2023. A total of 130 pregnant women beyond 28 weeks ofgestation were enrolled. Hemoglobin levels were measured at admission and categorized as per WHO criteria intomild (10–10.9 g/dL), moderate (7–9.9 g/dL), and severe (<7 g/dL) anemia. Maternal outcomes such as mode ofdelivery, postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, and ICU admissions were documented. Neonatal outcomes includedbirth weight, APGAR score, NICU admission, and neonatal mortality. Statistical analysis was conducted usingSPSS version 25.Results: Among the participants, 38% had mild anemia, 45% had moderate anemia, and 17% had severe anemia.Severe anemia was significantly associated with higher rates of preterm labor, postpartum hemorrhage, maternalICU admission, low birth weight, NICU admission, and neonatal mortality. Blood transfusion was required in79% of women with severe anemia, while the remaining patients either declined transfusion or were managedconservatively. The correlation between anemia severity and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes wasstatistically significant (p < 0.01).Conclusion: The severity of anemia in pregnancy is a strong predictor of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.Strengthening antenatal screening, nutritional interventions, and timely management is essential to reduce theburden of anemia-related complications in pregnancy.
Kumari et al. (Sat,) studied this question.