The relationship between maternal anemia during pregnancy with preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Late pregnancy in women with renal transplants: A multidisciplinary guide

Kidney transplant recipients are at risk of complications in late pregnancy, with increased rates of pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. It is recommended that these women receive more intensive monitoring after 20 weeks' gestation, ideally provided by a multidisciplinary team in a tertiary centre. This review focuses on the management of late pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients, from the perspective of different members of the multidisciplinary team. This includes evidence and guidance to inform the nephrologist, obstetrician, obstetric anaesthetist, transplant surgeon, midwife, and a summary of the woman's perspective. The review outlines a late pregnancy and early postnatal care pathway as a common algorithm to be used by the whole multidisciplinary team.

The effect of maternal undernutrition on adverse obstetric outcomes among women who attend antenatal care in Gedeo zone public hospitals, cohort study design

BACKGROUND

Undernutrition refers to an overall deficiency of nutrients due to an inadequate intake of a well-balanced diet. Undernourishment during pregnancy is an important contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. It remains a persistent problem in developing countries, where women usually fall behind men in having access to food, health care, and education. Despite the high prevalence of maternal undernourishment, its direct impact on obstetric outcomes has not been studied in developing countries, including Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effect of maternal undernutrition on adverse obstetric outcomes in Gedeo zone public hospitals.

METHOD

A cohort study design was employed in Gedeo zone public hospitals from June 30, 2022, to February 28, 2023. This study included 721 pregnant women, 237 were exposed group whereas 484 were non-exposed. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a non-exposed group and the exposed group was selected consecutively. Both groups were followed for 7 months, from 16 weeks of gestation to 24 h of delivery. The pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist were used. EpiData 4.4.1.2.version was used for data entry and analyzed using Stata version 16 software. A modified Poisson regression model with robust standard errors was used to determine relative risk, and the statistical association was declared at a p-value ≤ 0.05. Finally, the findings were reported in figures, tables, and words.

RESULT

The incidence of adverse obstetrics outcomes among undernourished and normally nourished mothers was hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP) (7.49% vs. 3.19%), antepartum haemorrhage (7.49% vs. 3.19%), obstructed labor (1.53% vs. 3.49%), premature rupture of the membrane (2.5% vs. 3.33%), preterm labor (6.52% vs. 6.93%), instrumental vaginal delivery (1.8% vs. 4.3%), postpartum haemorrhage (5.95% vs. 3.88%), and sepsis (3.74% vs. 1.94%). The risk of adverse obstetric outcomes among undernourished women was hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP) (aRR) = 4.07, 95%CI: 2.53-6.55), antepartum haemorrhage (APH) (aRR = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.08-12.72), preterm labor (aRR = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.23-2.62), operative delivery (aRR = 1.24, 95%C: 0.87-1.78), postpartum haemorrhage (aRR = 3.02, 95%CI: 1.91-4.79), and sepsis/chrioaminitis (aRR = 3.55, 95%CI: 1.83-6.89) times higher than normally nourished women.

CONCLUSION

The incidence rates of hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDDP), antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage, and sepsis were higher among undernourished women than normally nourished women. Undernourished women during pregnancy have an increased risk of adverse obstetrics outcomes including hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, antepartum, preterm labor, operative delivery, postpartum haemorrhage, and sepsis/chorioamnionitis.

Prevalence and influencing factors of anemia among pregnant women across first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy in monitoring areas, from 2016 to 2020: a population-based multi-center cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women across their entire pregnancy and the factors affecting it in the monitoring areas.

METHODS

A total of 108,351 pregnant women who received antenatal health care and delivered from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 in 15 monitoring counties of 8 provinces in the Maternal and Newborn Health Monitoring Program (MNHMP) of National Center for Women and Children's Health (NCWCH) were selected as the study subjects. The anemia status among the subjects across their first, second and third trimester of pregnancy and the influencing factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

From 2016 to 2020, the prevalence of anemia at any stage during pregnancy in the monitoring areas was 43.59%. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women across all three trimesters was 3.95%, and the prevalence of mild and moderate-to-severe anemia was 1.04% and 2.90%, respectively. Protective factors were living in the northern area (OR = 0.395) and being a member of an ethnic minority (OR = 0.632). The risk factors were residing in rural areas (OR = 1.207), with no more than junior high school education (OR = 1.203), having ≥ 3 gravidities (OR = 1.195) and multiple fetuses (OR = 1.478).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women across all trimesters in the monitoring area was low, the severity of anemia was high. Since the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women across their entire pregnancy in the monitoring area is affected by many different factors, more attention should be paid to pregnant women living in rural areas, with low literacy, ≥ 3 gravidities and multiple fetuses for early intervention.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Newborn Anemia in Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

The global prevalence of maternal anemia is about 42%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of newborn anemia ranges from 25% to 30%. Anemia in newborn babies may cause complications such as delayed brain maturation and arrested growth. However, there is limited data on the prevalence of newborn anemia and its risk factors in people living in resource-limited settings.

Objectives

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia and its correlation with maternal anemia in southwestern Uganda.

Methods

This was a cross sectional study of 352 pregnant women presenting to the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for delivery. We collected maternal blood in labor and umbilical cord blood from the placental vein. We measured hemoglobin using a point-of-care Hemocue machine. We used summary statistics to characterize the study participants and compared demographic characteristics and outcomes using chi-square, t-test, and Wilcoxon rank sum analyses. We defined newborn anemia as umbilical cord hemoglobin <13 g/dl and measured the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord hemoglobin using linear regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of newborn anemia was 17%. Maternal parity was significantly higher for anemic than nonanemic newborns (3 versus 2, P=0.01). The mean age in years (SD) was significantly lower for participants with umbilical cord hemoglobin <13 g/dl than those ≥13 g/dl (26 years [5.6] versus 28 [6.3], P=0.01). In multivariable linear regression analysis, a 1-point decrease in maternal hemoglobin was associated with a 0.14-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P=0.02). Each one-unit increase in parity was associated with a 0.25-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P=0.01). Cesarean delivery was associated with a 0.46-point lower umbilical cord hemoglobin level compared with vaginal delivery (P=0.03).

Conclusions

We found a significant association between maternal and newborn hemoglobin, underscoring the importance of preventing and correcting maternal anemia in pregnancy. Furthermore, maternal anemia should be considered a risk factor for neonatal anemia.

Determinants of prematurity in urban Indonesia: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Indonesia is the fifth country with the highest number of preterm births worldwide. More than a third of neonatal deaths in Indonesia were attributed to preterm birth. Residential areas affected the occurrence of preterm birth due to differing socioeconomic and environmental conditions. Many studies have investigated the determinants of prematurity in Indonesia, however, most of them were performed in rural areas. This study is the first meta-analysis describing the determinants of preterm birth in urban Indonesia, which aimed to become the foundation upon implementing the most suitable preventative measure and policy to reduce the rate of preterm birth.

METHODS

We collected all published papers investigating the determinants of preterm birth in urban Indonesia from PubMed MEDLINE and EMBASE, using keywords developed from the following key concepts: "preterm birth", "determinants", "risk factors", "Indonesia" and the risk factors, such as "high-risk pregnancy", "anemia", "pre-eclampsia", and "infections". Exclusion criteria were multicenter studies that did not perform a specific analysis on the Indonesian population or did not separate urban and rural populations in their analysis, and articles not available in English or Indonesian. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of bias. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles were included in the analysis and classified into five categories: genetic factors, nutrition, smoking, pregnancy characteristics or complications, and disease-related characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis revealed adolescent pregnancy, smoking, eclampsia, bacterial vaginosis, LC-PUFA, placental vitamin D, and several minerals as the significant determinants of preterm birth in urban Indonesia.

Systemic inflammation, enteropathogenic E. Coli, and micronutrient insufficiencies in the first trimester as possible predictors of preterm birth in rural Bangladesh: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

An incomplete understanding of preterm birth is especially concerning for low-middle income countries, where preterm birth has poorer prognoses. While systemic proinflammatory processes are a reportedly normal component of gestation, excessive inflammation has been demonstrated as a risk factor for preterm birth. There is minimal research on the impact of excessive maternal inflammation in the first trimester on the risk of preterm birth in low-middle income countries specifically.

METHODS

Pregnant women were enrolled at the rural Bangladesh site of the National Institute of Child Health Global Network Maternal Newborn Health Registry. Serum samples were collected to measure concentrations of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), and stool samples were collected and analyzed for enteropathogens. We examined associations of maternal markers in the first-trimester with preterm birth using logistic regression models. CRP and AGP were primarily modeled with a composite inflammation predictor.

RESULTS

Out of 376 singleton births analyzed, 12.5% were preterm. First trimester inflammation was observed in 58.8% of all births, and was significantly associated with increased odds of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 5.16), independent of anemia. Maternal vitamin B12 insufficiency (aOR = 3.33; 95% CI: 1.29, 8.21) and maternal anemia (aOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.26, 5.17) were also associated with higher odds of preterm birth. Atypical enteropathogenic E. coli detection showed a significant association with elevated AGP levels and was significantly associated with preterm birth (odds ratio [OR] = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.57), but not associated with CRP.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammation, anemia, and vitamin B12 insufficiency in the first trimester were significantly associated with preterm birth in our cohort from rural Bangladesh. Inflammation and anemia were independent predictors of premature birth in this low-middle income setting where inflammation during gestation was widespread. Further research is needed to identify if infections such as enteropathogenic E. coli are a cause of inflammation in the first trimester, and if intervention for infection would decrease preterm birth.

Prevalence of anemia and comparison of perinatal outcomes among anemic and nonanemic mothers

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of anemia is a significant public health challenge. Approximately half of all pregnant women in India experience anemia during pregnancy. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anemia and perinatal outcomes among anemic and nonanemic pregnant mothers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The quantitative research approach was adopted using a descriptive comparative design. The study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatric departments of a tertiary care hospital. Hemoglobin (Hb) was recorded using antenatal records of pregnant mothers in their III trimester. Based on their Hb level, subjects were divided into two groups, anemic and nonanemic as per World Health Organization criteria. The subjects were followed up until the first week after birth.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anemia was 48% [N = 410]; 70.6% had mild, 13.7% had moderate, and 15.7% had severe. The anemic group had a significantly higher incidence of low birthweight (30.9% vs 10.3%, P = 0.001) and preterm births (24.2% vs 3.2%, P = 0.001) compared to the nonanemic group. Additionally, there were significant differences in various quantitative perinatal parameters such as weight (P = 0.001), length (P = 0.001), head circumference (P = 0.001), chest circumference (P = 0.034), APGAR score at one minute (P = 0.022), and APGAR score at five minutes (P = 0.001) between the anemic and nonanemic.

CONCLUSION

The maternal anemia is associated with increased risk of unfavorable perinatal outcomes. Identifying and managing anemia among pregnant women is critical to minimize adverse outcomes. Adequate antenatal care can play a significant role in preventing avoidable complications associated with anemia during the third trimester.

Clinical outcome post treatment of anemia in pregnancy with intravenous versus oral iron therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Oral iron therapy is often the most common way of treating anaemia; however intravenous iron is considered effective due to rapid iron replenishment. We have dearth of evidence on clinical outcomes post treatment of anaemia. We have searched studies published in English in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Our study analysed the clinical outcomes amongst neonates and mother and the adverse events post treatment and assessed the mean change in maternal haemoglobin concentration in both the groups. Forest plots for the clinical outcomes are presented. From a total of 370 studies, 34 Randomized and quasi experimental studies comparing clinical outcomes post-treatment of anaemia in pregnancy were included for quantitative evidence synthesis. Pooled results of maternal clinical outcomes using random effect model [OR: 0.79 (95% CI 0.66; 0.95); 10 outcomes; 17 studies] showed statistically significant difference among both the groups [Moderate quality evidence]; however no significant difference [OR: 0.99 (95% CI 0.86; 1.14); 7 outcomes; 8 studies] have been observed for neonatal complications [Low quality evidence]. The study found that pregnant women receiving IV iron were significantly less likely to experience adverse events as compared with those receiving oral iron [OR 0.39;  (95% CI 0.26-0.60)]; 34 studies; 13,909 women; [Low quality evidence]. Findings from meta-regression analysis showed that IV iron is more likely to reduce maternal complications by 21% compared to oral iron. Increase in odds of adverse maternal outcomes was observed due to increase in gestational age and publication year but no effect for the type of drug used. IV iron increases Hb more and at a higher pace than oral iron. Intravenous iron is more likely to avert adverse maternal outcomes and adverse reactions. However, there is no conclusive evidence on its effectiveness on individual maternal outcome or neonatal outcome/s. Protocol registered with PROSPERO CRD42022368346).

Maternal risk factors for preterm birth in Taiwan, a nationwide population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The rate of preterm birth is increasing globally. It causes significant short-term and long-term health care burdens. A comprehensive recognition of the risk factors related to preterm births is important in the prevention of preterm birth. Our study is to investigate the incidence and maternal risk factors of preterm birth from a nationwide population-based perspective.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study. All live births from 2004 to 2014 in Taiwan enrolled. The main data source was Taiwan's Birth Certificate Application (BCA) database. The BCA database was linked with the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to establish any links between information on newborns and maternal underlying disease.

RESULTS

A total of 1,385,979 births were included in the analysis. The incidence of preterm birth increased gradually in Taiwan from 8.85% in 2004 to 10.73% in 2014. Maternal age, socioeconomic status, maternal allergy and autoimmune diseases, gynecological diseases, and pregnancy-related complications were significant risk factors for preterm birth.

CONCLUSION

The overall incidence of preterm births has gradually increased in Taiwan. Maternal age, socioeconomic status, certain underlying diseases, and pregnancy-related complications were risk factors for preterm birth.

Prevention of spontaneous preterm delivery – an update on where we are today

Spontaneous preterm birth (delivery before 37 completed weeks) is the single most important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The rate is increasing world-wide with a great disparity between low, middle and high income countries. It has been estimated that the cost of neonatal care for preterm babies is more than 4 times that of a term neonate admitted into the neonatal care. Furthermore, there are high costs associated with long-term morbidity in those who survive the neonatal period. Interventions to stop delivery once preterm labor starts are largely ineffective hence the best approach to reducing the rate and consequences is prevention. This is either primary (reducing or minimizing factors associated with preterm birth prior to and during pregnancy) or secondary - identification and amelioration (if possible) of factors in pregnancy that are associated with preterm labor. In the first category are optimizing maternal weight, promoting healthy nutrition, smoking cessation, birth spacing, avoidance of adolescent pregnancies and screening for and controlling various medical disorders as well as infections prior to pregnancy. Strategies in pregnancy, include early booking for prenatal care, screening and managing medical disorders and their complications, and identifying predisposing factors to preterm labor such as shortening of the cervix and timely instituting progesterone prophylaxis or cervical cerclage where appropriate. The use of biomarkers such as oncofetal fibronectin, placental alpha-macroglobulin-1 and IGFBP-1 where cervical screening is not available or to diagnosis PPROM would identify those that require close monitoring and allow the institution of antibiotics especially where infection is considered a predisposing factor. Irrespective of the approach to prevention, timing the administration of corticosteroids and where necessary tocolysis and magnesium sulfate are associated with an improved outcome. The role of genetics, infections and probiotics and how these emerging dimensions help in the diagnosis of preterm birth and consequently prevention are exciting and hopefully may identify sub-populations for targeted strategies.

Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Understanding the outcomes of anemia in pregnancy is critical. Since no study has been conducted regarding the maternal and neonatal outcomes of iron-deficiency anemia in Hormozgan province of Iran, this study aims to assess the maternal and neonatal outcomes of iron-deficiency anemia in women who gave birth in Hormozgan province from January 2020 to January 2022.

METHODS

 We retrospectively assessed all singleton pregnant women who gave birth at a tertiary hospital in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, Iran, for two years. We divided all women into iron-deficiency anemic and non-iron-deficiency anemic women. Iron-deficiency anemia was defined as hemoglobin less than 10.5 mg/dl at the time of admission without any other hemoglobinopathy, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia. Using electronic patient records, data were extracted from the Iranian Maternal and Neonatal Network (IMaN Net), a valid national system. Since the information of birth under 24 weeks of gestation is not recorded in this system, we excluded all deliveries under 24 weeks of gestation. The outcome measures of the study were demographic factors (age, education, residency place, access to prenatal care, smoking), obstetrical factors (parity, labor induction, fetal presentation, mode of delivery), and maternal and neonatal outcomes (the incidence of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placenta abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, maternal need for blood transfusion, maternal need for intensive care unit, preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, birth asphyxia, stillbirth, and neonatal intensive care admission). Chi-square tests were used to compare differences between iron-deficiency anemic and non-iron-deficiency anemic women. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of iron-deficiency anemia on maternal and neonatal outcomes. The result was presented as odds ratio (OR) or adjusted odds ratio (aOR) after adjusting for covariates and a 95% confidence interval (CI).  Results: The incidence of iron-deficiency anemia was 2.97%. Education and residency were among the demographic factors that differed significantly between groups. Iron-deficiency anemia was more frequent in those with higher education and women who lived in rural areas. In terms of obstetrical factors, method of delivery was the only significantly different factor between groups. Iron-deficiency anemic mothers had substantially more instrumental deliveries than non-iron-deficiency anemic mothers (4.3% vs. 0.8%), while the incidence of cesarean section was lower. Based on logistic regression in terms of maternal and neonatal outcomes, iron-deficiency anemic women had a substantially higher risk of the need for maternal blood transfusion (aOR: 6.54, 95%CI: 4.72-8.15), postpartum hemorrhage (aOR: 1.54, 95%CI: 0.71-2.11), preterm birth (aOR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.45-1.13), low birth weight (aOR: 1.04, 95%CI: 0.78-2.01), intrauterine growth retardation (aOR: 1.30, 95%CI: 0.99-2.10), and neonatal intensive care admission (aOR: 1.06, 95%CI: p.52-2.72), after adjusting for educational level, residency place, and method of delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the higher incidence of postpartum hemorrhage and maternal blood transfusion, we found no increase in maternal intensive care unit admission risk. Regarding neonatal outcomes, iron-deficiency anemia was linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, and neonatal intensive care admission.

Preterm Birth and Its Association with Maternal Diet, and Placental and Neonatal Telomere Length

Preterm birth (PTB), a multi-causal syndrome, is one of the global epidemics. Maternal nutrition, but also neonatal and placental telomere length (TL), are among the factors affecting PTB risk. However, the exact relationship between these factors and the PTB outcome, remains obscure. The aim of this review was to investigate the association between PTB, maternal nutrition, and placental-infant TL. Observational studies were sought with the keywords: maternal nutrition, placental TL, newborn, TL, and PTB. No studies were found that included all of the keywords simultaneously, and thus, the keywords were searched in dyads, to reach assumptive conclusions. The findings show that maternal nutrition affects PTB risk, through its influence on maternal TL. On the other hand, maternal TL independently affects PTB risk, and at the same time PTB is a major determinant of offspring TL regulation. The strength of the associations, and the extent of the influence from covariates, remains to be elucidated in future research. Furthermore, the question of whether maternal TL is simply a biomarker of maternal nutritional status and PTB risk, or a causative factor of PTB, to date, remains to be answered.

Is intimate partner violence and obstetrics characteristics of pregnant women associated with preterm birth in Ethiopia? Umbrella review on preterm birth

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth is a significant contributor to newborns morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of highly effective and powerful interventions, the burden of preterm birth has not decreased. Given the relevance of the topic to clinical decision-making, strong conclusive and supporting evidence emanating from the umbrella review is required. To this end, this umbrella review study sought to determine the association between intimate partner violence and obstetrics characteristics of women with preterm birth in Ethiopia.

METHODS

Six systematic review and meta-analysis studies searched across multiple databases were included in this umbrella review. The quality of the included systematic review and meta-analysis studies was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR-2) checklist. STATA version 18 was used for the statistical analysis. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall effect measurement.

RESULTS

A total of 114 observational studies in the six systematic review and meta-analysis studies involving 75,624 pregnant women were included in this comprehensive analysis. The preterm birth rate among mothers in Ethiopia was 11% (95% CI 10-13%; I2 = 98.08). Preterm birth was significantly associated with intimate partner violence (POR: 2.32; 95% CI 1.74-2.90), multiple pregnancies (POR: 3.36; 95% CI 2.41-4.32), pregnancy-induced hypertension (POR: 4.13; 95% CI 3.17-5.10), anemia (POR: 2.76; 95% CI 1.97-3.56), and premature rupture of pregnancy (POR: 5.1; 95% CI 3.45-6.75).

CONCLUSIONS

More than one out of ten pregnant women experienced preterm birth in Ethiopia. Intimate partner violence is significantly associated with preterm birth. Furthermore, multiple pregnancies, pregnancy-induced hypertension, anemia, and premature rupture of the membrane were significant predictors of preterm birth. Therefore, policymakers should consider further instigations and implementations of policies and strategies closely related to reductions of intimate partner violence. It is also crucial to the early identification and treatment of high-risk pregnancies.

Prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia in southwestern Uganda: a prospective cohort study

Introduction

The global prevalence of anemia in pregnancy is about 42%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of newborn anemia ranges from 25-30%. Anemia in newborn babies may cause complications such as delayed brain maturation and arrested growth. However, there is limited data on prevalence of newborn anemia and its risk factors in people living in resource-limited settings.

Objectives

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia and its correlation with maternal anemia in southwestern Uganda.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of 352 pregnant women presenting to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for delivery. We collected maternal blood in labor and umbilical cord blood from the placental vein, as a proxy for newborn hemoglobin. We estimated hemoglobin using a point-of-care Hemocue machine. We used summary statistics to characterize the cohort, and compared demographic characteristics and outcomes using Chi-square, t-test, and Wilcoxon Ranksum analyses. We defined newborn anemia as umbilical cord hemoglobin < 13g/dl and estimated the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord hemoglobin using linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

The prevalence of newborn anemia was 17%. The average maternal parity was significantly higher for anemic and non-anemic newborns (3.5 versus 2.8, P = 0.01). Mean age [SD] was significantly lower for participants with umbilical cord hemoglobin < 13g/dl than those > = 13 g/dl, (26 [5.6] versus 28 [6.3], P = 0.01). In multivariable linear regression analysis, a 1-point decrease in maternal hemoglobin was associated with a 0.14-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P = 0.02). Each one-unit increase in maternal parity was associated with a 0.25-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P = 0.01). Cesarean delivery was associated with a 0.46-point lower umbilical cord hemoglobin level compared to vaginal delivery (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

We found a significant correlation between maternal and newborn hemoglobin levels, underscoring the importance of preventing and correcting maternal anemia in pregnancy. Furthermore, maternal anemia should be considered a risk factor neonatal anemia.

Small vulnerable newborns-big potential for impact

Despite major achievements in child survival, the burden of neonatal mortality has remained high and even increased in some countries since 1990. Currently, most neonatal deaths are attributable to being born preterm, small for gestational age (SGA), or with low birthweight (LBW). Besides neonatal mortality, these conditions are associated with stillbirth and multiple morbidities, with short-term and long-term adverse consequences for the newborn, their families, and society, resulting in a major loss of human capital. Prevention of preterm birth, SGA, and LBW is thus critical for global child health and broader societal development. Progress has, however, been slow, largely because of the global community's failure to agree on the definition and magnitude of newborn vulnerability and best ways to address it, to frame the problem attractively, and to build a broad coalition of actors and a suitable governance structure to implement a change. We propose a new definition and a conceptual framework, bringing preterm birth, SGA, and LBW together under a broader umbrella term of the small vulnerable newborn (SVN). Adoption of the framework and the unified definition can facilitate improved problem definition and improved programming for SVN prevention. Interventions aiming at SVN prevention would result in a healthier start for live-born infants, while also reducing the number of stillbirths, improving maternal health, and contributing to a positive economic and social development in the society.

Placental pathology findings in perinatal deaths from 28 weeks gestation in Aotearoa New Zealand

INTRODUCTION

Women of South Asian ethnicity are overrepresented in adverse pregnancy outcome across high-income countries, including those related to placental dysfunction. It has been hypothesised that placental aging occurs at earlier gestation in South Asian pregnancies. We aimed to identify differences in placental pathology among perinatal deaths ≥28 weeks gestation, between South Asian, Māori and New Zealand (NZ) European women in Aotearoa NZ, with a focus on women of South Asian ethnicity.

METHODS

Placental pathology reports and clinical data from perinatal deaths between 2008 and 2017 were provided by the NZ Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, blinded, and analysed by an experienced perinatal pathologist using the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement criteria.

RESULTS

790 of 1161 placental pathology reports, 346 preterm (28⁺⁰ to 36⁺⁶ weeks) and 444 term (≥37⁺⁰ weeks) deaths, met the inclusion criteria. Among preterm deaths, South Asian women had higher rates of maternal vascular malperfusion compared with Māori (aOR 4.16, 95%CI 1.55-11.15) and NZ European (aOR 2.60, 95%CI 1.10-6.16). Among term deaths, South Asian women had higher rates of abnormal villous morphology compared with Māori (aOR 2.19, 95%CI 1.04-4.62) and NZ European (aOR 2.12, 95%CI 1.14-3.94), mostly due to increased rates of chorangiosis (36.7%, compared to 23.3% and 21.7%, respectively).

DISCUSSION

Differences in placental pathology by ethnicity were observed among preterm and term perinatal deaths. While we suspect differing underlying causal pathways, these deaths may be associated with maternal diabetic and red blood cell disorders among South Asian women, leading to a hypoxic state in-utero.

A Systematic Review of Studies Examining Associations between Sleep Characteristics with Dietary Intake and Eating Behaviors during Pregnancy

Little is known about the association between sleep and diet in pregnancy, despite both behaviors impacting maternal and fetal health. We aimed to perform a systematic review of the available literature on associations between sleep characteristics and dietary intake and eating behaviors during pregnancy, reporting on both maternal and fetal outcomes. We followed the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and conducted our search on 27 May 2021 in the PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases. The search yielded 6785 unique articles, of which 25 met our eligibility criteria. The studies, mostly observational, published 1993-2021, include data from 168,665 participants. Studies included examinations of associations between various maternal sleep measures with a diverse set of diet-related measures, including energy or nutrient intake (N = 12), dietary patterns (N = 9), and eating behaviors (N = 11). Associations of maternal exposures with fetal/infant outcomes were also examined (N = 5). We observed considerable heterogeneity across studies precluding our ability to perform a meta-analysis or form strong conclusions; however, several studies did report significant findings. Results from this systematic review demonstrate the need for consistency in methods across studies to better understand relationships between diet and sleep characteristics during pregnancy.

Maternal factors associated with iron deficiency without anaemia in early pregnancy: ECLIPSES study

Several population-specific genetic, sociodemographic, and maternal lifestyle factors are related to iron status in early pregnancy, and their identification would allow preventive actions to be taken. The study aimed to identify maternal factors associated with iron deficiency (ID) in early pregnancy in non-anaemic pregnant women from a European Mediterranean country. Cross-sectional study using the initial population of the ECLIPSES study performed in non-anaemic pregnant women before gestational week 12. Serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin concentrations were measured to evaluate iron status, and ID was defined as SF < 15 µg/L. Several sociodemographic and lifestyle data were recorded and used as covariates in the multivariate-adjusted regression models. Out of the 791 participants, 13.9% had ID in early pregnancy. Underweight (OR 3.70, 95%CI 1.22, 15.53) and parity (1 child: OR 2.03, 95%CI 1.06, 3.88; ≥ 2 children: OR 6.96, 95%CI 3.09, 15.69) increased the odds of ID, while a high intake of total meat (≥ 108.57 g/day: OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.15, 0.87), red/processed meat (≥ 74.29 g/day: OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.35, 0.98), protein (≥ 65.05 g/day: OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.30, 0.99), and dietary iron (≥ 8.58 mg/day: OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.35, 0.94) protected against it. Smoking was also associated with a reduction in ID odds (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.12, 0.99). Baseline BMI, parity, smoking, and diet are associated with ID in early pregnancy in non-anaemic women. Pregnancy planning policies should focus on women at higher risk of ID, such as those who are underweight, multiparous, or following vegetarian diets. This clinical trial was registered at www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu as EudraCT number 2012-005,480-28 and at www.clinicaltrials.gov with identification number NCT03196882.

Impact of medical conditions and medications received during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes: A hospital-based prospective case-control study

Purpose

In view of the raising rate of adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) across the globe, this study was conducted to assess the impact of medical conditions and medications received during pregnancy on ABOs.

Materials and Methods

A prospective case-control study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 3 years from July 2015 to June 2018. Liveborn and stillborn neonates included in the study were categorized into cases and controls based on the presence or absence of composite ABOs, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for ABOs among medical conditions and medications received by mothers during their current pregnancy.

Results

Among 1214 neonates included in the study, 556 (45.8%) were identified with composite ABOs, the majority were low birth weight (320 [26.4%]) and preterm birth 300 (24.7%). After adjusting for confounding factors, it was identified that hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.3), oligohydramnios (aOR 3.9), anemia (aOR 3.2), nifedipine (aOR 10.0), nicardipine (aOR 5.3), and magnesium sulfate (aOR 5.3) were the risk factors for overall and specific ABOs like preterm birth and low birth weight. It was also identified that the early detection and management of hypertension with antihypertensives like labetalol and methyldopa can reduce the risk of preterm birth by 93% and 88%, respectively.

Conclusion

Medical conditions such as hypertension, oligohydramnios, and anemia and medications such as nifedipine, nicardipine, and magnesium sulfate during pregnancy were identified as the risk factors for overall and specific ABOs like preterm birth and low birth weight.

Maternal anemia and risk of adverse maternal health and birth outcomes in Bangladesh: A nationwide population-based survey

BACKGROUND

Maternal anemia is an ongoing public health challenge in low- and middle- income countries, including Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to explore the association of maternal anemia with a range of adverse maternal health and birth outcomes in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A total of 2,259 maternal women data was analyzed, extracted from the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Outcome variables considered were a range of maternal health and birth outcomes. Adverse maternal health outcomes were pregnancy complications, pregnancy termination, menstrual irregularities, cesarean delivery, diabetes, and hypertension. Adverse birth outcomes considered were low birth weight, stillbirths, early neonatal deaths, perinatal deaths, preterm birth, and prolonged labor. The main exposure variable was maternal anemia status. Mixed effect multilevel logistic/poisson regression model was used to determine the association between exposure and outcome variable adjusted for individual-, household-, and community-level factors.

RESULTS

The reported prevalence of anemia was 44%. A higher likelihoods pregnancy complication (AOR, 1.39, 95% CI, 1.09-2.41, p<0.05) and lower likelihoods of menstrual irregularities (AOR, 0.79, 95% CI, 0.58-0.94, p<0.05), diabetes (AOR, 0.78, 95% CI, 0.49-0.98, p<0.05) and hypertensive (AOR, 0.79, 95% CI, 0.60-0.96, p<0.05) were found among anemic maternal women as compared to the non-anemic maternal women. Adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth (AOR, 2.03, 95% CI, 1.01-4.25, p<0.05), early neonatal mortality (AOR, 1.87, 95% CI, 1.06-5.10), and perinatal mortality (AOR, 1.54, 95% CI, 1.09-3.52, p<0.05), were also found higher among newborn of anemic maternal women as compared to the newborn of non-anemic maternal women.

CONCLUSION

Anemia during pregnancy increases the occurrence of adverse maternal health and birth outcomes. Strategies to reduce anemia, such as iron supplementation, during pregnancy and among reproductive-aged women need to be prioritized in the policies and programs.

Association of serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and gestational anemia during different trimesters in Zhuang ethnic pregnancy women of Guangxi, China

BACKGROUND

Gestational anemia is a complication of pregnancy, and a low level of hemoglobin (Hb) has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Previous studies reported that PFASs were more strongly associated with Hb than red blood cells, indicating that Hb is more susceptible to the effect of PFASs. However, the evidences regarding the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) on gestational anemia are currently limited. Therefore, it is important to explore the effects of PFASs on anemia in Chinese pregnant women.

METHODS

A total of 821 pregnant women were recruited between June 2015 and April 2019 in the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort. The concentrations of PFASs were assessed in maternal serum before 12 gestational weeks. To determine both individual and combined associations of PFASs exposure with anemia in the three stages of pregnancy, binary logistic regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were employed.

RESULTS

In single-pollutant analysis, maternal exposure to perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were associated with anemia in the first trimester, exposure to PFHpA and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) were associated with anemia in the second trimester, and exposure to perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were associated with anemia in the third trimester. Notably, perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) had a nonlinear association with anemia in the third trimester. In multiple-pollutant analysis, a positive association of PFDoA with anemia in the first trimester and a negative association of PFBS with anemia in the second trimester were confirmed by BKMR. Exposure to PFASs mixture was not associated with anemia in all three trimesters. In WQS, there was a significantly negative association between the PFAS mixture and anemia in the second trimester.

CONCLUSION

Maternal exposure to PFASs is associated with gestational anemia in different trimesters.

A non-invasive machine learning mechanism for early disease recognition on Twitter: The case of anemia

Social media sites, such as Twitter, provide the means for users to share their stories, feelings, and health conditions during the disease course. Anemia, the most common type of blood disorder, is recognized as a major public health problem all over the world. Yet very few studies have explored the potential of recognizing anemia from online posts. This study proposed a novel mechanism for recognizing anemia based on the associations between disease symptoms and patients' emotions posted on the Twitter platform. We used k-means and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithms to group similar tweets and to identify hidden disease topics. Both disease emotions and symptoms were mapped using the Apriori algorithm. The proposed approach was evaluated using a number of classifiers. A higher prediction accuracy of 98.96 % was achieved using Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO). The results revealed that fear and sadness emotions are dominant among anemic patients. The proposed mechanism is the first of its kind to diagnose anemia using textual information posted on social media sites. It can advance the development of intelligent health monitoring systems and clinical decision-support systems.

Factors associated with early pregnancy anemia in rural Sri Lanka: Does being 'under care' iron out socioeconomic disparities?

Globally, more than a third of pregnant women are anemic, and progress in its prevention and control is slow. Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country with a unique public health infrastructure that provides multiple interventions across the lifecycle for anemia prevention, despite which anemia in pregnancy remains a challenge. Studying the factors associated with maternal anemia in this context would provide unique information on challenges and opportunities encountered as low-and-middle-income countries attempt to control anemia by improving health care coverage. All first-trimester pregnant women registered for antenatal care in the Anuradhapura district between July 2019 to September 2019 were invited to participate in the baseline of a cohort study. Interviewer-administered and self-completed questionnaires were used. Anemia was defined using a full blood count. A hierarchical logistic regression model was built to identify factors associated with anemia. Out of 3127 participants, 451 (14.4%) were anemic. According to the regression model (Chi-square = 139.3, p<0.001, n = 2692), the odds of being anemic increased with the Period of gestation (PoG) (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01-1.13). While controlling for PoG, age and parity, history of anemia (OR = 3.22, 95%CI = 2.51-4.13), being underweight (OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.24-2.18), having the last pregnancy five or more years back (OR = 1.57,95%CI = 1.15-2.15) and having used intrauterine devices for one year or more (OR = 1.63, 95%CI = 1.16-2.30) increased the odds of anemia. Breast feeding during the last year (OR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.49-0.90) and having used contraceptive injections for one year or more (OR = 0.61,95%CI = 0.45-0.83) reduced the risk of anemia. Proxy indicators of being in frequent contact with the national family health program have a protective effect over the socioeconomic disparities in preventing early pregnancy anemia. Maintaining the continuum of care through the lifecycle, especially through optimizing pre and inter-pregnancy care provision should be the way forward for anemia control.

Adapting prenatal iron supplementation to maternal needs results in optimal child neurodevelopment: a follow-up of the ECLIPSES Study

Background

Prenatal prescription of standard iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency appears not to be appropriate for all women and their children, as some women may be at risk of iron deficiency and others at risk of iron excess early in pregnancy. The present study aimed to assess whether prenatal iron supplementation adapted to the needs of each pregnant woman affects their child’s neurodevelopment.

Methods

Follow-up of a community-based RCT involving 503 mother–child pairs. Non-anaemic pregnant women recruited in Tarragona (Spain) early in pregnancy were prescribed a daily iron dose based on their initial haemoglobin levels: Stratum 1 (Hb = 110–130 g/L, 80 or 40 mg/d of iron) and Stratum 2 (Hb > 130 g/L, 40 or 20 mg/d of iron). Women receiving 40 mg/d were considered the control group in each Strata. The child’s neurodevelopment was assessed at 40 days of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III (BSID-III). Adjusted multiple regression models were used.

Results

Multiple regression analyses showed no association between the intervention and control group within each Strata on the BSID-III scores on any of the developmental scales in children, including cognitive, language, and motor development: Stratum 1 (β 1.46, 95%CI -2.15, 5.07; β 1.30, 95%CI -1.99, 4.59; and β 2.04, 95%CI -3.88, 7.96, respectively) and Stratum 2 (β -4.04, 95%CI -7.27, 0.80; β -0.36, 95%CI -3.47, 2.75; and β -3.76, 95%CI -9.30, 1.78, respectively).

Conclusions

In non-anaemic women in early pregnancy, no differences were found in the cognitive, language and motor development of children at 40 days of age between the dose of iron tested in each case –adjusted to initial Hb levels– compared to the dose of the control group. Further studies are guaranteed to confirm our findings.

Trial registration

The ECLIPSES study was registered at www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu as EudraCT number 2012–005,480-28.

Association between receipt of nutritional counseling during antenatal care visits and anemia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Anemia during pregnancy is associated with premature births, low birth weight and increased susceptibility to infection. Nearly a quarter (24.34%) of Ethiopian pregnant women suffer from anemia. Nutritional counseling during antenatal care (ANC) visits may encourage pregnant women to take a more iron-rich diet and prevent anemia. This study examines the association between nutritional counseling during ANC and anemia among Ethiopian women.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study uses the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data (n=4, 384). The outcome of interest was anemia, measured objectively by blood hemoglobin level. The main independent variable was the receipt of nutritional counseling during ANC visits. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were performed using SAS 9.4.

RESULTS

Overall, 25.8% of the participants were anemic and 65.7% received nutritional counseling during ANC visits. Compared to women who received nutritional counseling during ANC visits, a significantly higher proportion of women who did not receive nutritional counseling were anemic (23.1% vs. 30.8%; p<0.001). In the multivariable model, compared to women who received nutritional counseling during their ANC visits, the odds of being anemic were higher among women who did not receive nutritional counseling during their ANC visits AOR 1.34 (95% CI) = (1.07-1.67; p=0.010).

CONCLUSION

In a representative sample of Ethiopian women, exposure to nutritional counseling during ANC visits is associated with a lower likelihood of anemia, independent of potential confounders. Focused ANC counseling that includes nutritional counseling programs during ANC visits can be an effective strategy to prevent and control anemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Comparable Pregnancy Outcomes for HIV-Uninfected and HIV-Infected Women on Antiretroviral Treatment in Kenya

BACKGROUND

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on pregnancy outcomes for women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa remains unclear.

METHODS

Pregnant women in Kenya were enrolled in the second trimester and followed up to delivery. We estimated effects of treated HIV with 3 pregnancy outcomes: loss, premature birth, and low birth weight and factors associated with HIV-positive status.

RESULTS

Of 2113 participants, 311 (15%) were HIV infected and on ART. Ninety-one of 1762 (5%) experienced a pregnancy loss, 169/1725 (10%) a premature birth (<37 weeks), and 74/1317 (6%) had a low-birth-weight newborn (<2500 g). There was no evidence of associations between treated HIV infection and pregnancy loss (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], .65-2.16; P = .57), prematurity (aRR, 1.09; 95% CI, .70-1.70; P = .69), and low birth weight (aRR, 1.36; 95% CI, .77-2.40; P = .27). Factors associated with an HIV-positive status included older age, food insecurity, lower education level, higher parity, lower gestation at first antenatal clinic, anemia, and syphilis. Women who were overweight or underweight were less likely to be HIV infected compared to those with normal weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently treated HIV was not significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. HIV-infected women, however, had a higher prevalence of other factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Analysis of risk factors progression of preterm delivery using electronic health records

Background

Preterm deliveries have many negative health implications on both mother and child. Identifying the population level factors that increase the risk of preterm deliveries is an important step in the direction of mitigating the impact and reducing the frequency of occurrence of preterm deliveries. The purpose of this work is to identify preterm delivery risk factors and their progression throughout the pregnancy from a large collection of Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Results

The study cohort includes about 60,000 deliveries in the USA with the complete medical history from EHR for diagnoses, medications and procedures. We propose a temporal analysis of risk factors by estimating and comparing risk ratios and variable importance at different time points prior to the delivery event. We selected the following time points before delivery: 0, 12 and 24 week(s) of gestation. We did so by conducting a retrospective cohort study of patient history for a selected set of mothers who delivered preterm and a control group of mothers that delivered full-term. We analyzed the extracted data using logistic regression and random forests models. The results of our analyses showed that the highest risk ratio and variable importance corresponds to history of previous preterm delivery. Other risk factors were identified, some of which are consistent with those that are reported in the literature, others need further investigation.

Conclusions

The comparative analysis of the risk factors at different time points showed that risk factors in the early pregnancy related to patient history and chronic condition, while the risk factors in late pregnancy are specific to the current pregnancy. Our analysis unifies several previously reported studies on preterm risk factors. It also gives important insights on the changes of risk factors in the course of pregnancy. The code used for data analysis will be made available on github.

Genes, exposures, and interactions on preterm birth risk: an exploratory study in an Argentine population

Preterm birth (PTB) is the main condition related to perinatal morbimortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify associations of spontaneous PTB with genetic variants, exposures, and interactions between and within them. We carried out a retrospective case-control study including parental sociodemographic and obstetric data, and fetal genetic variants. We sequenced the coding and flanking regions of five candidate genes from the placental blood cord of 69 preterm newborns and 61 at term newborns. We identify the characteristics with the greatest predictive power of PTB using penalized regressions, in which we include exposures (E), genetic variants (G), and two-way interactions. Few prenatal visits (< 5) was the main predictor of PTB from 26 G, 35 E, 299 G × G, 564 E × E, and 875 G × E evaluated terms. Within the fetal genetic characteristics, we observed associations of rs4845397 (KCNN3, allele T) variant; G × G interaction between rs12621551 (COL4A3, allele T) and rs73993878 (COL4A3, allele A), which showed sensitivity to anemia; and G × G interaction between rs11680670 (COL4A3, allele T) and rs2074351 (PON1, allele A), which showed sensitivity to vaginal discharge. The results of this exploratory study suggest that social disparities and metabolic pathways linked to uterine relaxation, inflammation/infections, and collagen metabolism would be involved in PTB etiology. Future studies with a larger sample size are necessary to confirm these findings and to analyze a greater number of exposures.

Increased spontaneous preterm births during the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in India

OBJECTIVE

To compare spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) and iatrogenic preterm birth (IPTB) rates during both waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the PregCovid registry of pregnant women with COVID-19 was performed at a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Mumbai, India. The data of 1630 women were analyzed for this study between April 4, 2020 and July 4, 2021. Prepandemic data were analyzed and compared with pandemic data. Main outcome measure was spontaneous preterm birth rate.

RESULTS

Preterm deliveries were higher during the second wave (46/329; 14%) compared with the first wave (82/807; 10.2%) of the COVID-19 pandemic (P = 0.065). Higher SPTBs were reported during the second wave than the first wave (12.5% versus 8.3%) (P = 0.03) as well as the prepandemic period (12.5% versus 10.5%) (P = 0.286). IPTBs were significantly lower in the pandemic period than in the prepandemic period (1.8 versus 3.3) (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

In Mumbai, India, we found an unusual change in SPTBs during the 6 months of the second wave of COVID-19 compared with the previous 10 months of the first wave of pandemic and 1 year of prepandemic.

The Impact of Preconception Gastric Bypass Surgery on Maternal Micronutrient Status before and during Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2019

Post-bariatric weight loss can cause iatrogenic malnutrition and micronutrient depletion. In this study, we evaluated the impact of gastric bypass surgery (GB) and multivitamin supplement use on maternal micronutrient status before and across pregnancy. A retrospective medical chart review of 197 singleton pregnancies after GB with a due date between 2009 and 2019 was performed at a bariatric expertise center in the Netherlands. Hemoglobin, calcium, iron status, folate, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and ferritin levels were determined before and after GB during standard follow-up and at all gestational trimesters and analyzed using linear mixed models. Patients were prescribed standard multivitamin supplements or multivitamins specifically developed for post-bariatric patients (FitForMe WLS Forte (FFM)). Overall, hemoglobin and calcium levels decreased after surgery and during pregnancy, whereas folate, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 levels increased, and iron levels remained stable. FFM use was associated with higher hemoglobin, folate, vitamin D, and ferritin levels. In conclusion, through adequate supplementation and follow-up, GB does not have to result in impaired micronutrient status. Supplements developed specifically for post-bariatric patients generally result in higher micronutrient values than regular multivitamins before and during pregnancy. These data emphasize the urgent need for nutritional counseling including dietary and multivitamin supplement advise for post-bariatric women contemplating and during pregnancy.

Gestational Anemia and its effects on neonatal outcome, in the population of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Background

Anemia in pregnancy is a globally health-related issue, that affects both mothers and their newborn. Anemia during pregnancy across the world involves approximately 38% of the world population. To evaluate the effect of gestational anemia on perinatal outcome in the population. The aim of present study is to evaluate the effect of gestational anemia on perinatal outcome in the population of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods

A cross-sectional comparative analysis was conducted among pregnant mothers who were listed to give birth at Liaquat University of medical and health sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad during the period of September 2018 to September 2019. The study population 400 were selected by convenient random sampling, and grouped into 2 on the basis of their Hb levels, with Hb < 11 gm% they were classified as anemic mothers, Hb ≥ 11 gm% were termed as non-anemic mothers, data was collected on the preformed questionnaire, and was analyzed on SPSS 21.

Results

The prevalence of anemia was 51.5% in in total population out of which, the incidence of normocytic normochromic anemia was highest 52.4 %microcytic hypochromic anemia was found in 19.4%, Overall, extremely low Apgar was found in 53 anemics, and 8 non. anemic mother’s infants, LBW incidence was 47.5 %; in anemic mothers, and 15.4 % in non-anemic group, the term, small for gestational age infants were 14.5% in anemic mothers, and 3.6% in non-anemic mothers, there were 36 preterm births to anemic mothers and 10 in non-anemic mothers. The incidence of caesarian section is 53.3% in anemic mothers compared to 30.9% in non-anemic mothers.

Conclusions

Anemia in pregnancy significantly increases risks of low Apgar, LBW, term SGA, preterm birth, and an increase incidence of caesarian section.

Prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnant women: A prospective cross-sectional Austrian study

The aim of the study was to determine, for the first time, in a prospective cross-sectional multicenter study, the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) in an Austrian pregnant population. A cohort of 425 pregnant women was classified into four groups of different weeks of gestation. Group 1 was monitored longitudinally, while groups 2-4, iron status, were sampled only once. Evaluation of the prevalence of ID was performed by comparing the diagnostic criteria of the WHO to the cutoff proposed by Achebe MM and Gafter-Gvili A (Achebe) and the Austrian Nutrition Report (ANR). In comparison with the ANR, the prevalence of ID was lower in group 1 and higher in groups 2-4 (17.2% vs. 12.17%, 25.84%, 35.29%, and 41.76%, respectively) (p-values < .01 except group 1). According to WHO, the prevalence in group 1 was 12.17% at inclusion, 2 months later 31.7%, and further 2 months later 65.71%, respectively. According to Achebe, the number of cases doubled; for group 1, the number of cases rose from 13 to 42 (115 patients total); for groups 2-4, we observed an increase from 112 to 230 (340 patients total). This study reported a prevalence of around 12% at the beginning of pregnancy, which increased during pregnancy up to 65%. ID can have a massive impact on quality of life, justifying screening, as iron deficiency would be easy to diagnose and treat.

Iron and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants: A Narrative Review

Iron is critical for brain development, playing key roles in synaptogenesis, myelination, energy metabolism and neurotransmitter production. NICU infants are at particular risk for iron deficiency due to high iron needs, preterm birth, disruptions in maternal or placental health and phlebotomy. If deficiency occurs during critical periods of brain development, this may lead to permanent alterations in brain structure and function which is not reversible despite later supplementation. Children with perinatal iron deficiency have been shown to have delayed nerve conduction speeds, disrupted sleep patterns, impaired recognition memory, motor deficits and lower global developmental scores which may be present as early as in the neonatal period and persist into adulthood. Based on this, ensuring brain iron sufficiency during the neonatal period is critical to optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes and iron supplementation should be targeted to iron measures that correlate with improved outcomes.

Low birth weight and birth weight status in Bangladesh: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) is high in Bangladesh, but no study has collated recent estimates of LBW prevalence from throughout the country. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of LBW and birth weight status in Bangladesh. We searched PubMed, Medline, Ovo and Google Scholar to find published articles in national and international journals from 2000–2020 and reviewed for relevance. Meta-analysis and Q test were performed to estimate the prevalence and heterogeneity of LBW from all included articles. Meta-regression was done to quantify associations with sample size and study year. Stratified analysis was conducted and effect size calculated for differences in LBW prevalence by sex, division and urban/rural area. In total 48 studies with 166,520 births were found and included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of LBW was 29.1% (95% CI, 28.9–29.3%) in overall, 29.9% (29.7–30.2%) in rural and 15.7% (14.9–16.6%) in urban areas. There was no significant difference in average birth weight between boys and girls (SD, 0.71; 95% CI, −0.43–1.83). Prevalence of LBW was higher in north-east Bangladesh compared to other zones (p<0.05). The pooled prevalence of LBW did not change significantly for last two decades. The prevalence of LBW in Bangladesh remains high. Lack of improvement suggests an urgent need for scaled up maternal and prenatal interventions and services known to reduce LBW. Urban/rural and divisional differences in rates suggest areas of greatest need.

Development of national dietary and lifestyle guidelines for pregnant women in Lebanon

Although a number of international diet and lifestyle guidelines during pregnancy (DLGP) exist in the literature, contextualization to low- and middle-income settings is less common. The aim of this study was to present the Lebanese DLGP and to describe the process followed for their development. A mixed-method approach was used including a review and synthesis of existing international DLGP and a consensus building nominal group technique (NGT) with a multidisciplinary group of experts (n = 11). During the meeting, participants identified the themes of the guidelines, formulated the wording of each themes' guideline and translated the guidelines to the Arabic language. Consensus was defined as an agreement of 80%. Reviewing the literature, a list of 17 main topics were found to be common themes for the DLGP. For the Lebanese DLGP, participants in the NGT meeting selected seven themes from this list: gestational weight gain, diet diversity, hydration, food safety, harmful foods, physical activity and breastfeeding. In addition, the group formulated three themes based on merging/modifying existing themes: supplementation, alcohol and smoking and religious fasting. Two context-specific new themes emerged: wellbeing and nutrition resilience. For each of the identified themes, the group agreed upon the wording of its guidelines and description. This study is the first from the Eastern Mediterranean Region to develop through consensus building, context and culture-specific dietary and lifestyle guidelines for pregnant women. Putting maternal nutrition at the heart of tackling malnutrition and its detrimental health outcomes is a core investment for a better maternal and child health.

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is defined as a low red blood cell count, a low hematocrit, or a low hemoglobin concentration. In pregnancy, a hemoglobin concentration of less than 11.0 g/dL in the first trimester and less than 10.5 or 11.0 g/dL in the second or third trimester (depending on the guideline used) is considered anemia. Anemia is the most common hematologic abnormality in pregnancy. Maternal anemia is associated with adverse fetal, neonatal and childhood outcomes, but causality is not established. Maternal anemia increases the likelihood of transfusion at delivery. Besides hemodilution, iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening for anemia with a complete blood count in the first trimester and again at 24 0/7 to 28 6/7 weeks of gestation. Mild anemia, with a hemoglobin of 10.0 g/dL or higher and a mildly low or normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is likely iron deficiency anemia. A trial of oral iron can be both diagnostic and therapeutic. Mild anemia with a very low MCV, macrocytic anemia, moderate anemia (hemoglobin 7.0-9.9 g/dL) or severe anemia (hemoglobin 4.0-6.9 g/dL) requires further investigation. Once a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is confirmed, first-line treatment is oral iron. New evidence suggests that intermittent dosing is as effective as daily or twice-daily dosing with fewer side effects. For patients with iron deficiency anemia who cannot tolerate, cannot absorb, or do not respond to oral iron, intravenous iron is preferred. With contemporary formulations, allergic reactions are rare.

Targeting Microglial Disturbances to Protect the Brain From Neurodevelopmental Disorders Associated With Prematurity

Microglial activation during critical phases of brain development can result in short- and long-term consequences for neurological and psychiatric health. Several studies in humans and rodents have shown that microglial activation, leading to a transition from the homeostatic state toward a proinflammatory phenotype, has adverse effects on the developing brain and neurodevelopmental disorders. Targeting proinflammatory microglia may be an effective strategy for protecting the brain and attenuating neurodevelopmental disorders induced by inflammation. In this review we focus on the role of inflammation and the activation of immature microglia (pre-microglia) soon after birth in prematurity-associated neurodevelopmental disorders, and the specific features of pre-microglia during development. We also highlight the relevance of immunomodulatory strategies for regulating activated microglia in a rodent model of perinatal brain injury. An original neuroprotective approach involving a nanoparticle-based therapy and targeting microglia, with the aim of improving myelination and protecting the developing brain, is also addressed.

Long-term risk of anaemia after bariatric surgery: results from the Swedish Obese Subjects study

BACKGROUND

Nutritional deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, are potential adverse consequences of bariatric surgery. Long-term data on anaemia after bariatric surgery are largely lacking. We aimed to investigate the risk of anaemia, iron and vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency over 20 years in individuals who had bariatric surgery or received usual obesity care.

METHODS

The prospective, controlled Swedish Obese Subjects study recruited people with obesity via recruitment campaigns in the mass media and at primary health-care centres, and was done at 480 primary health-care centres and in 25 surgical departments in Sweden. Eligible participants were aged 37-60 years and had a BMI of either 34 kg/m² or more (for men) or 38 kg/m² or more (for women). Participants were excluded if they had undergone previous bariatric surgery or had contraindicating conditions. Two main groups were formed: those who chose bariatric surgery, the type of which was determined by the operating surgeon, and a contemporaneously matched control group, created by use of 18 matching variables, who received usual non-surgical obesity care that ranged from lifestyle advice to no treatment. Haemoglobin concentration was measured during examination visits at baseline and at 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, 15 years, and 20 years of follow-up. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin concentration of less than 120 g/L for women and 130 g/L for men. The primary, non-specified outcome was the incidence of anaemia, and was assessed in the as-treated population, which comprised only patients who received the actual treatment. The associations between treatment type and anaemia are expressed as unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and HRs adjusted for age, sex, BMI, menopausal status, education, diabetes, and hypertension, with 95% CIs. This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01479452, and is closed to new participants, with follow-up ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between Sept 1, 1987, and Jan 31, 2001, 6905 individuals were assessed for eligibility, of whom 5335 were eligible. Of these, we included 2007 patients who chose bariatric surgery (266 in the gastric bypass group, 1365 in the vertical-banded gastroplasty group, and 376 in the gastric banding group) and 2040 matched controls who received usual obesity care. During a maximum of 20 years and a median of 10 years (IQR 3-20) of follow-up, there were 133 anaemia events in the gastric bypass group, 359 in the vertical-banded gastroplasty group, 101 in the gastric banding group, and 261 in the control group. Compared with the control group (13 cases per 1000 person-years, 95% CI 11-14), the incidence of anaemia was higher in the gastric bypass group (64 cases per 1000 person-years, 53-74; HR 5·05, 95% CI 3·94-6·48; p<0·0001), the vertical-banded gastroplasty group (23 cases per 1000 person-years, 21-26; 2·67, 2·25-3·18; p<0·0001), and the gastric banding group (26 per 1000 person-years, 21-31; 2·76, 2·15-3·52; p<0·0001). These associations remained after adjustment.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings highlight the increased risk of anaemia after bariatric surgery and the importance of long-term compliance to nutritional supplementation and monitoring to enable prevention and early detection of serious nutritional deficiencies after bariatric surgery.

FUNDING

Swedish Research Council, the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish Government and the county councils, the Swedish Diabetes Foundation, the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Anaemia in chronic kidney disease pregnancy

AIM

To review the incidence and management of anaemia and outcomes in pregnancies in a cohort of Australian women with chronic kidney disease.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of 63 pregnancies in 52 women with chronic kidney disease.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight percent of chronic kidney disease pregnancies were complicated by haemoglobin less than 100 g/L. Iron stores were measured in only 62% of all pregnancies. Serum ferritin was less than 100 ng/ml in 95% of those tested. Erythropoietin-stimulating agents were used in 24 pregnancies (38%). Intravenous iron was used in only nine non-dialysis pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

Greater awareness of the importance of regular measurement of iron stores and appropriate levels for repletion in chronic kidney disease pregnancies amongst health professionals involved in obstetric care may result in earlier detection and treatment of iron deficiency, and potentially improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Antepartum and postpartum anemia: a narrative review

Antepartum anemia impacts over a third of pregnant women globally and is associated with major maternal and perinatal morbidity, including peripartum transfusion, maternal death, maternal infection, preterm birth, and neurodevelopmental disorders among offspring. Postpartum anemia impacts up to 80% of women in low-income and rural populations and up to 50% of women in Europe and the United States, and is associated with postpartum depression, fatigue, impaired cognition, and altered maternal-infant bonding. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of maternal anemia because of insufficient maternal iron stores at the start of pregnancy, increased pregnancy-related iron requirements, and iron losses due to blood loss during parturition. Anemic women should undergo testing for iron deficiency; a serum ferritin cutoff level of 30 μg/L is commonly used to diagnose iron deficiency during pregnancy. The first-line treatment of iron deficiency is oral iron. Intravenous iron is a consideration in the following scenarios: a poor or absent response to oral iron, severe anemia (a hemoglobin concentration <80 g/L), rapid treatment for anemia in the third trimester, women at high risk for major bleeding (such as those with placenta accreta), and women for whom red blood cell transfusion is not an option. Given the high prevalence of antepartum and postpartum anemia, anesthesiologists are advised to partner with other maternal health professionals to develop anemia screening and treatment pathways.

Poor Birth Outcomes in Malaria in Pregnancy: Recent Insights Into Mechanisms and Prevention Approaches

Pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions are susceptible to malaria in pregnancy, which has adverse consequences on birth outcomes, including having small for gestational age and preterm babies. These babies are likely to have low birthweights, which predisposes to infant mortality and lifelong morbidities. During malaria in pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes express a unique variant surface antigen, VAR2CSA, that mediates sequestration in the placenta. This process may initiate a range of host responses that contribute to placental inflammation and dysregulated placental development, which affects placental vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and nutrient transport. Collectively, these result in the impairment of placental functions, affecting fetal development. In this review, we provide an overview of malaria in pregnancy and the different pathological pathways leading to malaria in pregnancy-associated low birthweight. We also discuss current prevention and management strategies for malaria in pregnancy, and some potential therapeutic interventions that may improve birth outcomes. Lastly, we outline some priorities for future research that could bring us one step closer to reducing this health burden.

Gut Microbiota Signatures in Gestational Anemia

Gestational diseases are associated with altered intestinal microbiota in pregnant women. Characterizing the gut microbiota of gestational anemia (GA) may describe a novel role of gut microbial abnormality in GA. In this study, we investigated differences in gut microbiota between GA patients and healthy pregnant women from the first trimester (n = 24 vs. 54) and the third trimester (n = 30 vs. 56) based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. No statistically significant differences in α-diversity were identified between GA patients and controls in the first trimester of pregnancy, whereas the Shannon index and observed OTUs were significantly lower in GA patients than in healthy controls in the third trimester. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed striking differences in microbial communities in the third trimester between GA patients and controls. Four genera were significantly different in relative abundance between GA patients and healthy controls, while 12 genera differentiated significantly between GA patients and healthy controls in the third trimester. At the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, 17 OTUs and 30 OTUs were identified to be different between GA patients and healthy controls in the first and third trimesters, respectively. Changes in gut microbial composition of GA patients suggest a potential relation with GA, and provide insights into the prediction and intervention of gestational anemia.

Controversies in the prevention of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic women: an evidence summary and expert opinion

Preterm birth prevention is multifaceted and produces many nuanced questions. This review addresses six important clinical questions about preterm birth prevention as voted for by members of the UK Preterm Clinical Network. The questions cover the following areas: preterm birth prevention in 'low-risk' populations; screening for asymptomatic genital tract infection in women at high risk of preterm birth; cervical length screening with cerclage or vaginal pessary in situ; cervical shortening whilst using progesterone; use of vaginal progesterone in combination with cervical cerclage; and optimal advice about intercourse for women at high risk of preterm birth.

Maternal haemoglobin in pregnancy and offspring childhood weight and height trajectories: analysis of a prospective birth cohort study

Background: Both anaemia and high haemoglobin in pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including foetal growth restriction. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal haemoglobin in pregnancy and trajectories of length/height and weight from birth through childhood. Methods: Data from 7,597 singleton pregnancies in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), an ongoing, prospective, UK population-based pregnancy cohort study were used. We examined associations between maternal haemoglobin (overall pregnancy and trimester specific) and offspring length and weight at birth, as well as trajectories of height and weight gain from birth to age 10 years derived from multilevel models. Results: Mean pregnancy haemoglobin was 11.61 g/dL (SD 1.12). For each 1g/dL higher mean overall pregnancy haemoglobin, offspring were on average -0.30 cm shorter (95%CI: -0.35, -0.24, p <0.001), and -97.7 g lighter (95%CI: -110.42, -84.93, p <0.001) at birth when adjusting for potential confounders. Trimester specific inverse associations with birth length and weight were strongest for third trimester haemoglobin. There was evidence of a positive association between maternal haemoglobin levels and offspring height gain up to the age of one year and no strong evidence of associations between pregnancy haemoglobin and childhood weight gain. Conclusions: In high income countries, higher maternal haemoglobin in pregnancy may be a concern, as well as anaemia. Further studies are needed to define ‘high’ haemoglobin in pregnancy and whether monitoring of women with high pregnancy haemoglobin is warranted.

Anemia and Cost-Effectiveness of Complete Blood Count Testing Among Pregnant Women at King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A Single Tertiary Center Experience

Background Iron deficiency is the most common etiology of anemia among pregnant women. Many studies showed that anemia during pregnancy had been associated with adverse outcomes such as intrauterine growth retardation, preterm delivery, and maternal mortality. However, screening for those pregnant remains controversial.  Objectives To find the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women and pregnancy outcomes. Also, to find the cost-effectiveness of running complete blood count (CBC) tests among them. Methods This is a retrospective record review done on pregnant women who delivered at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018. They were screened for eligibility, with the exclusion of those with hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. Data were collected from their electronic medical records. Results A total of 5,120 pregnant women had delivered from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2018, and 2,845 (55.6%) developed anemia during pregnancy. Out of 2,822, 2,301 were mild, 471 moderate, 50 severe, and 2,185 were normal. A total of 3,656 (71.4%) women were Saudis, and 1,464 (28.6%) were non-Saudis. The mean age was 29.85±6 years, and their first hemoglobin reading mean was 10.6±1.3g/dl. Out of 2,822, 546 developed undesired pregnancy outcomes. History of anemia, blood transfusion, intrauterine fetal demise, and stillbirth was significantly associated with abnormal hemoglobin levels (p<0.05). Complete blood count (CBC) testing for these pregnant women cost 422,990.92 US dollars. Conclusion Although the cut-off point of diagnosing anemia level during pregnancy isn't fully understood, pregnant women with mild to moderate levels appeared to have lesser adverse pregnancy outcomes in comparison to women with severe level. Therefore, screening during prenatal visits or antenatal for anemia should be tailored to each pregnant based on her condition and the overall clinical judgment.

Causes of mortality in a neonatal intensive care unit in Iran: one year data

BACKGROUND Neonatal mortality rate is a major health index. Approximately, 65% of all deaths in the first year of life occur during this 4-week period. The present study was conducted to investigate the mortality rates and causes of death in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Ahvaz, Iran in a year.  METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in the NICU of Sina Hospital in Ahvaz. Medical records were studied, and data from 1,040 newborns admitted to the NICU within one year (March 2016 to March 2017) were collected following a checklist. Of these newborns, 123 died, and their relevant data were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 20 (SPSS Inc., USA).  RESULTS The mortality rate was 11.82% (123 cases) out of 1,040 newborns admitted to NICU. Most of the newborns (48.8%) died on days 1–7. The causes of death were respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (34.1%), asphyxia (25.2%), anomalies (10.6%), sepsis (7.3%), intracerebral hemorrhage (8.1%), pulmonary hemorrhage (7.3%), and other causes (6.4%), such as hydrops, severe pneumothorax, severe renal failure, and others.  CONCLUSIONS The mortality rate in the NICU of this center was similar to that in other Iranian provinces. The most common causes of NICU mortality included prematurity and its complications, such as asphyxia and RDS. Thus, a strategic plan for reducing preterm delivery and asphyxia are necessary.

Maternal genitourinary infections and poor nutritional status increase risk of preterm birth in Gasabo District, Rwanda: a prospective, longitudinal, cohort study

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of early childhood mortality and morbidity, including long-term physical and mental impairment. The risk factors for PTB are complex and include maternal nutritional status and infections. This study aimed to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for targeted interventions to reduce the occurrence of PTB in Rwanda.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, longitudinal cohort study of healthy pregnant women aged 18 to 49 years. Women at 9-15 gestational weeks were recruited from 10 health centers in Gasabo District, Kigali Province between September and October 2017. Pregnancy age was estimated using ultrasonography and date of last menstruation. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements were performed using standard procedures for both mothers and newborns. Surveys were administered to assess demographic and health histories. Categorical and continuous variables were depicted as proportions and means, respectively. Variables with p <  0.25 in bivariate analyses were included in multivariable logistic regression models to determine independent predictors of PTB. The results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), with statistical significance set at p <  0.05.

RESULTS

Among 367 participants who delivered at a mean of 38.0 ± 2.2 gestational weeks, the overall PTB rate was 10.1%. After adjusting for potential confounders, we identified the following independent risk factors for PTB: anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl) (OR: 4.27; 95%CI: 1.85-9.85), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR:9.82; 95%CI: 3.88-24.83), chlamydia infection (OR: 2.79; 95%CI: 1.17-6.63), inadequate minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) score (OR:3.94; CI: 1.57-9.91) and low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 23 cm (OR: 3.12, 95%CI; 1.31-7.43). indicators of nutritional inadequacy (low MDD-W and MUAC) predicted risk for low birth weight (LBW) but only UTI was associated with LBW in contrast with PTB.

CONCLUSION

Targeted interventions are needed to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women, such as maternal education on dietary diversity and prevention of anemia pre-pregnancy. Additionally, prevention and treatment of maternal infections, especially sexually transmitted infections and UTIs should be reinforced during standard antenatal care screening which currently only includes HIV and syphilis testing.

Epidemiology of low birth weight in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Low birth weight (LBW) is an important general health indicator. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of LBW in Iran.

Method

This meta-analysis was reported based on the PRISMA guidelines. All stages were independently performed by two authors. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020163446). We searched epidemiological studies at international databases of Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar search engine, as well as Iranian databases of SID, IranDoc, Iranian National Library, Barakat Knowledge Network System, RICST and Magiran using MeSH keywords without time limit until 2019. After selecting the studies, applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and qualitative assessment, the data were analyzed based on random effects model using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software version 2. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The prevalence of LBW in Iran was 7.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.36-8.58) in 62 studies with a sample size of 301,839 newborns. The prevalence of LBW in girls and boys was 8.41% (95%CI: 7.47-9.45) and 6.67% (95%CI: 5.86-7.59), respectively. The girls-to-boys odds ratio of LBW was 1.25 (95%CI: 1.13-1.39, P < 0.001) very LBW and extremely LBW prevalence was estimated to be 0.61% (95%CI: 0.40-0.93) and 0.29% (95% CI: 0.18-0.45), respectively. The risk factors for LBW were age of >35 versus [vs.] ≤35 (P = 0.024), age of <18 vs. ≥18 (P < 0.001), education of middle school and lower vs. high school and higher (P < 0.001), weight under 50 kg (P = 0.001), employed vs. housekeeper (P < 0.001), inadequate prenatal care (P = 0.046), interval with previous pregnancy <2 vs. >2 (P < 0.001), prematurity (P < 0.001), history of LBW (P < 0.001), multiple birth (P < 0.001), abortion (P < 0.001), vaginal bleeding (P < 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.001) and preeclampsia (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of this meta-analysis showed that LBW is prevalent in Iran. This study can be a national database for LBW that would be of interest to Iranian health policy-makers and planners.

The contribution of iron deficiency to the risk of peripartum transfusion: a retrospective case control study

Background

Iron deficiency in pregnancy is associated with inferior maternal and fetal outcomes. Postpartum depression, prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, impaired childhood cognition and transfusion are all sequelae of maternal iron deficiency anemia. Transfusion to women of childbearing age has important consequences including increasing the risk of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn with future pregnancies. The relative contribution of iron deficiency to transfusion rates in the peripartum period is unknown. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia in pregnant women that received peripartum transfusions relative to age-matched non-transfused controls.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case-control study of all women that were transfused in the peripartum period from January, 2014 to July, 2018. Cases were compared to the next age matched control to deliver at our institution. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of patients with iron deficiency in pregnancy or anemia in pregnancy in cases and controls. Charts were reviewed for predisposing risk factors for iron deficiency, laboratory measures of iron deficiency and anemia, iron supplementation history and maternal and fetal outcomes. Factors associated with peripartum transfusion were analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression.

Results

169 of 18, 294 (0.9%) women were transfused in the peripartum period and 64 (44%) of those transfused received 1 unit. Iron deficiency or anemia were present in 103 (71%) transfused women and 74 (51%) control women in pregnancy (OR 2.34, 95% CI: 3.7–18.0). Multivariate analysis identified social work involvement (adjusted OR 4.1, 95% CI: 1.8–10.1), intravenous iron supplementation in pregnancy (adjusted OR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2–17.4) and delivery by unscheduled cesarean section (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3–6.2) as significant predictors of peripartum transfusion.

Conclusions

Pregnant women being followed by a social worker, receiving intravenous iron supplementation in pregnancy or who deliver by unscheduled cesarean section are more likely to receive a red blood cell transfusion. Women with iron deficiency or anemia in pregnancy are at increased risk of peripartum blood transfusions and warrant early and rigorous iron supplementation.

Fat-soluble nutrients and Omega-3 fatty acids as modifiable factors influencing preterm birth risk

Preterm birth is a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality, so strategies to reduce early birth must remain a priority. One key approach to enhancing birth outcomes is improving maternal dietary intake. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss mechanisms on perinatal status of fat-soluble nutrients (carotenoids, retinol, tocopherols) and omega-3 fatty acids and how they impact risk for preterm birth. Literature review demonstrates that maternal dietary intake and biological (blood and placental tissue) levels of fat-soluble nutrients during pregnancy may provide antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids also promote increased production of specialized pro-resolving mediators, subsequently mediating inflammation resolution. Combined effects of these nutrients support appropriate placental organogenesis and function. Consequently, fat-soluble nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids serve as strong influencers for preterm birth risk. As dietary intake remains a modifiable factor, future intervention would benefit from a focus on optimizing perinatal status of these specific nutrients.