Perinatology.  2022 Dec;33(4):181-187. 10.14734/PN.2022.33.4.181.

The Relationship between Maternal Obesity in Pre-Pregnancy and Preterm Birth in Ko rean Women: A Nationwide PopulationBased Study

• Song AY
• Jee J
• Noh E
• Kim HY
• Ahn KH
• Hong SC
• Kim HJ
• Oh MJ
• Cho GJ

• KMID: 2537722
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/PN.2022.33.4.181

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity on the risk of preterm birth in Korean women.
Methods
Primiparas who delivered a singleton between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015, and underwent a National Health Screening Examination within 1 year of pregnancy were eligible. Preterm birth data were obtained by merging data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children database. Maternal obesity was defined as a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m² .
Results
Among 237,064 women who delivered during the study period, 16,249 (6.9%) women were obese. In the multivariable analysis, women with obesity had an increased risk of preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation: odds ratio [OR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.25) compared with those without obesity. Women with obesity also had an increased risk of early preterm birth (<34 weeks of gestation: OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.24-1.69).
Conclusion
Our study demonstrated the relationship between obesity in pre-pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth in Korea. A public health plan regarding obesity in prenatal counseling is needed to achieve optimal body weight gain before conception to minimize the risk of poor perinatal out comes.

Keyword

Pre-pregnancy body mass index; Pre-pregnancy obesity; Premature birth