Influence of Maternal Anthropometric Measurements and Serum Biochemical Nutritional Indicators on Fetal Growth

Maternal height and the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight: a systematic review and meta-analyses

OBJECTIVE

Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) are the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, but the effect of maternal height on these outcomes continues to be debated. Our objective was to determine the relationships between maternal height and PTB and LBW.

DATA SOURCES

Medline and EMBASE were searched from their inceptions.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies with a reference group that assessed the effect of maternal height on PTB (< 37 weeks) and LBW (< 2500 grams) in singletons were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted independently by two reviewers.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Fifty-six studies were included involving 333 505 women. In the cohort studies, the unadjusted risk of PTB in short-statured women was increased (relative risk [RR] 1.23; 95% CI 1.11 to 1.37), as was the unadjusted risk of LBW (RR 1.81; 95% CI 1.47 to 2.23), although not all of the studies with adjusted data found the same association. Maternal tall stature was not associated with PTB (unadjusted RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.14), although LBW was decreased (unadjusted RR 0.56; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.69), but not in the adjusted data.

CONCLUSION

From our complete systematic review and meta-analyses, to our knowledge the first in this area, we conclude that short-statured women have higher unadjusted risks of PTB and LBW and tall women have approximately one half the unadjusted risk of LBW of women of reference height.

Maternal underweight and the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight: a systematic review and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Despite the current obesity epidemic, maternal underweight remains a common occurrence with potential adverse perinatal outcomes. Our objective was to determine the relationship between maternal underweight and preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) in singleton pregnancies in developing and developed countries.

METHODS

We followed the MOOSE consensus statement. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from their inceptions. We included studies that assessed the effect of maternal underweight compared with normal weight according to body mass index in singleton gestations on our two primary outcomes: PTB (<37 weeks) and LBW (<2500 g). Two assessors independently reviewed citations, extracted data and assessed quality.

RESULTS

A total of 78 studies were included involving 1 025 794 women. The overall risk of PTB was increased in the cohort studies of underweight women [adjusted relative risk (RR) 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-1.46], as were the risks of spontaneous PTB (adjusted RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.10-1.57) and induced PTB (adjusted RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.36). Underweight women had an increased risk of an LBW infant (adjusted RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.38-1.94). In developed countries, underweight women had an increased risk of PTB (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15-1.30) but not in developing countries (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67-1.45). In both developed and developing countries, underweight women were at increased risk of having an LBW infant (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.29-1.68, and RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.85, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review and meta-analyses, we determined that singletons born to underweight women have higher risks of PTB (overall, spontaneous and induced) and LBW than those born to women with normal weight.