Role of obesity and overweight in preeclampsia

Objective: To investigate the effect of excess body weight and obesity on preeclampsia and to compare the results with the outcomes of extended first-trimester prenatal screening. Materials and methods: The study enrolled 155 patients who were divided into Group I (n=42) and Group II (n=63) with moderate and severe preeclampsia, respectively. Group III (control group) included 50 women with healthy pregnancy. Baseline evaluation included physical, ultrasonic, and biochemical examinations as part of the combined extended prenatal screening according to Russian Health Ministry Order 1130n. Correlation analysis was performed using Gamma (Gamma, G) and Spearman (R) coefficients. Results: Overweight and obesity were found to be risk factors for gestational complications. These findings do not agree with the results of combined prenatal screening. The results of the first-trimester screening showed that 12 (11.4%) of patients in Groups I and II and five (10%) in the control group had a high risk of preeclampsia with a probability of 1:100 or higher. Correlation analysis showed a moderate association between pre-pregnancy body mass index and the development of preeclampsia during pregnancy (G=0.23, p=0.0015). Conclusion: The results of the study confirm the relationship between preeclampsia and pre-pregnancy excess body weight. Excess body weight and obesity should be classified as adverse factors that exacerbate the course and outcome of pregnancy and require 100% preventive measures regardless of the results of the first-trimester screening.

obesity, preeclampsia, pregnancy, complications