OBESITY RELATED MATERNAL AND FETAL COMPLICATIONS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES This study aimed to identify obesity-related maternal and neonatal complications at a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. METHODOLOGY The prospective observational study was carried out from October 2022 to October 2023 at the Gynae Department of the Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. The study comprised non-obese pregnant women as the control group and obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) pregnant women of any age and parity as cases. Patients with type I and type II diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, miscarriages, abnormal babies, women with a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2, women who could not be monitored until delivery, and those with irregular antenatal visits were excluded. The incidence of obesity-related maternal complications, such as pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and wound infection, as well as the need for labor induction or cesarean delivery, was assessed. Follow-up data included the baby's birth weight, APGAR score, RDS, Jaundice, Hospital stay days, and NICU admission and observation. RESULTS 70 obese women were included in this prospective study as the case group, while 70 women with BMIs between 18.5 and 24.99 kg/m2 were included in the control group. The mean age was 27.3 years. Obese women have a mean BMI of 31.34. The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in obese women (17%), and gestational hypertension was (8.5%). Pre-eclampsia was (4.3%) 86.5% of obese women had inductions. Obese women had cesarean delivery rates (74.45%). Wound Infections were noted in 19.4%. Babies of obese mothers (17%) experienced more extended hospital stays 32% of them were macrosomic. Obese patients' babies had higher rates of NICU admission (15.7%) and NICU observation (21.6%). CONCLUSION Obesity in pregnancy is a significant health concern and is responsible for causing major maternal and fetal morbidity, in terms of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, more extended hospital stays, wound infections, and macrosomia, RDS, jaundice, NICU admission, and observation for the neonate.