Evaluation of Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy and its Association with Adverse outcomes at Al-Azher University Hospital (Assiut)

Background: Obesity is a medical disorder that has the potential to adversely affect one's health due to excessive accumulation of body fat. Aim: To evaluate maternal obesity in early pregnancy to find the relation between it and adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Patients and methods: This prospective controlled study was conducted on 140 Primigravida females attending antenatal care outpatient clinic for follow-up till delivery at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology - Faculty of Medicine - Al-Azhar University Hospital (Assuit) from February 2022 to December 2022. Patients were categorized into two groups (each included 70 pregnant females): Group A (non-obese group) and Group B (obese group). Results: Gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational D.M. were statistically more frequent in obese cases (p= 0.009, 0.008, and 0.033), respectively. Cesarean section (C.S.) was the most frequent mode of delivery among obese patients, with a statistically significant value (P< 0.001). There was a statistically insignificant distinction among groups of study regarding intrapartum complications and other fetal complications such as shoulder dystocia, IUGR, IUFD, fetal distress (P> 0.05), NICU admission, Congenital anomalies, postpartum total bilirubin level and Apgar scores at one and five minutes (P > 0.05). Septic wound and Fetal macrosomia were statistically significantly more frequent among obese patients (p= 0.042). Conclusion: Obesity with pregnancy increased the incidence of medical disorders such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational D.M. It also increased the rate of cesarean section, septic wound, and fetal macrosomia.