Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a significant contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives: To determine maternal and clinical risk factors for IUGR among pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kharadar General Hospital, from November 2023 to April 2024. A total of 188 women were enrolled, including 94 cases (women with IUGR) and 94 controls (women without IUGR). Data on sociodemographic characteristics, anemia, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), thyroid dysfunction, and nutritional status were collected using predefined operational definitions. Logistic regression determined the independent risk factors Results: The mean maternal age was 30.3 ± 4.2 years among cases and 29.3 ± 4.5 years among controls. Anemia and hypothyroidism were significantly associated with IUGR in multivariate analysis (aOR=4.23; 95% CI: 1.60–11.19; p=0.004 and aOR=6.04; 95% CI: 1.61–22.68; p=0.008, respectively). PIH showed significance in univariate analysis but lost significance after adjustment. Maternal underweight and hyperthyroidism were not independently associated with IUGR. Conclusions: Maternal anemia and hypothyroidism emerged as independent risk factors for IUGR, highlighting the need for routine screening and early interventions during pregnancy to improve neonatal outcomes.
Maqsood et al. (Tue,) studied this question.