ASIAN OR WHO INTERNATIONAL CUTOFF OF BODY MASS INDEX, A BETTER PREDICTOR OF ADVERSE PREGNENCY OUTCOME?-RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NORTH KERALA

Dr. Beena B., *Dr. Mini C. H., Dr. Libu G. K., Dr. Marin Mariyam Mathew and Dr. Ajitha B. K.

ABSTRACT

Background: Obesity has become an important public health problem and the prevalence of obesity is increasing in pregnancy. The revised guidelines for Asian Indians categorize overweight as a BMI of 23.0 – 24.9 and obesity as a BMI≥25. Objectives: To assess the impact of revised guidelines of Body Mass Index (BMI) on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in pregnant women and to compare Asian Indian BMI with World Health Organization (WHO) BMI in prediction of adverse pregnancy outcome. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of record based data of 790 women, at a tertiary care centre (Dept; of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Govt. Medical College, Calicut, Kerala). BMI was categorised using the revised consensus guidelines for Asian Indians and the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee. Results: There were a total of 790 patients and the mean age was 26.69.The prevalence of obesity increased from 20.4% by WHO criteria to 74.7% with the revised consensus guidelines and led to the re-classification of 156(19.74%) women from a low risk to highrisk. Gestational diabetes, Gestational hypertension and caesarean section was associated more with high risk. Conclusion: On applying the revised guidelines, the prevalence of the high risk Asian Indian pregnant women showed a definite increase (3.6 times). Therefore, it would be a better alternative to support adoption of the revised guidelines in obstetric management of Asian Indians.

Keywords: Obesity, BMI, Asian Indian BMI, WHO BMI, adverse outcome, pregnancy.