Abstract

TO FIND ASSOCIATION OF MATERNAL ABDOMINAL SUBCUTANEOUS FAT THICKNESS WITH NEONATAL OUTCOMES AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Aditi Arora, Vikash Kumari Kasana, Ishita Agarwal, Premlata Mital*, Priyanka Inania and Isha Ramneek

ABSTRACT

Maternal obesity during pregnancy is associated with various obstetric or perinatal complications. There is increased risk of macrosomia, foetal anomalies, low birth weight, preterm birth, small for gestational ages and stillbirths. BMI is the most frequently used parameter for identification of obesity-related pregnancy complications. This study was done to find association of maternal abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness with neonatal outcomes at a tertiary care centre. Material & Methods: 200 women with live singleton pregnancy between 36-40 weeks with known pre-pregnancy BMI and willing to participate in the study were included after obtaining written informed consent. Maternal abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness was measured by ultrasonography. All women were monitored during ANC and labour as per protocol and feto-maternal outcome were noted. Data were analyzed. Results: 76.5% women had SCFT <15 mm and 23.5% women had SCFT ≥15 mm. Cesarean delivery and failed induction were significantly more in women with SCFT≥15 mm. Mean foetal weight in SCFT ≥15 mm group was 3.15 ± 0.74 Kg and in SCFT <15 mm was 2.64 ± 0.65 Kg (p 0.000). APGAR Score <7 at 5 min, NICU admission and macrosomia were significantly more in women with SCFT ≥15 mm. There was a moderate positive and significant correlation between Foetal Weight and SCFT, (rho = 0.43, p = <0.001). Conclusion: Measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness by ultrasound is easy and quick modality and can be used to predict adverse neonatal outcome in women who do not remember their pre-pregnancy weight.

Keywords: Abdominal Subcutaneous fat thickness, Ultrasonography, BMI, Neonatal outcome.