Correlation of low birth weight with infertility and ART treatment: single-center cohort analysis of 7697 singleton live births

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) significantly influences neonatal prognosis as well as growth and development in adult. This study aimed to explore the increased risk of low birth weight (LBW) in singleton live births in connection with infertility treatment is attributed to patient- and cycle-dependent factors related to infertility or the use of ART procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 7697 patients with singleton live births of IVF/ICSI treatment between January 2016 and December 2020. We explored the increased risk of LBW and patient- and cycle-dependent factors to determine their influence on the likelihood of LBW. To analyze this relationship, we employed both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: ) and obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) patients had a significantly increased risk of LBW (OR = 1.421, 95% CI: 1.139-1.772, P = 0.002; OR = 1.470, 95% CI: 1.080-2.000, P = 0.014, respectively). and thicker EMT (≥ 8 mm) significantly decreased the LBW rate (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the presence of a multiple pregnancy was found to be correlated with an increased LBW rate (OR = 1.946, 95% CI 1.462-2.589, P < 0.001); the number of transferred embryos was not significantly associated with LBW (OR = 0.119, 95% CI 0.859-1.456, P = 0.405). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal BMI, EMT, and vanishing multiple pregnancies are important risk factors for LBW in single infants conceived through IVF. It is essential to consider pre-pregnancy maternal weight, endometrial thickness, and promote the practice of elective single embryo transfer .