Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates an increasing prevalence of obesity in Western countries. This study investigates the influence of obesity on the mode of delivery and the occurrence of hypoglycemia in newborns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all deliveries at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University of Lübeck, Germany was conducted over a period of eleven years with the primary outcome as non-elective C-sections and hypoglycemia of newborns from obese mothers. Patients were divided into six subgroups according to WHO weight classifications as follows: control group body mass index (BMI) 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m (2) , n = 7712; general obesity BMI ≥ 25 kg/m (2) , n = 4227; overweight BMI 25 - 29.9 kg/m (2) , n = 2628; obesity I° BMI 30 - 34.9 kg/m (2) , n = 1017; obesity II° BMI 35 - 39.9 kg/m (2) , n = 370; obesity III° BMI ≥ 40 kg/m (2) , n = 212. RESULTS: Analysis of the primary outcome shows an increased incidence of non-elective C-sections with an elevated BMI (general obesity vs. control group: 20.5 vs. 15.9%, p < 0.001; OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2 - 1.4) and elevated rates of neonatal hypoglycemia in newborns of obese mothers (general obesity vs. control group: 0.6 vs. 0.3%, p < 0.05; OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0 - 3.0). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is an essential obstetric risk factor. Obese women face an increased risk of non-elective C-sections, and newborns of obese mothers suffer from elevated rates of hypoglycemia.