Pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology in morbidly obese patients: assessment of feto-maternal outcomes

J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Apr;41(4):903-914. doi: 10.1007/s10815-024-03065-1. Epub 2024 Feb 21.

Abstract

Purpose: To examine feto-maternal characteristics and outcomes of morbidly obese pregnant patients who conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Methods: This cross-sectional study queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Study population was 48,365 patients with ART pregnancy from January 2012 to September 2015, including non-obesity (n = 45,125, 93.3%), class I-II obesity (n = 2445, 5.1%), and class III obesity (n = 795, 1.6%). Severe maternal morbidity at delivery per the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention definition was assessed with multivariable binary logistic regression model.

Results: Patients in the class III obesity group were more likely to have a hypertensive disorder (adjusted-odds ratio (aOR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.61-3.52), diabetes mellitus (aOR 3.08, 95%CI 2.64-3.60), large for gestational age neonate (aOR 3.57, 95%CI 2.77-4.60), and intrauterine fetal demise (aOR 2.03, 95%CI 1.05-3.94) compared to those in the non-obesity group. Increased risks of hypertensive disease (aOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.60) and diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.39, 95%CI 1.17-1.66) in the class III obesity group remained robust even compared to the class I-II obesity group. After controlling for priori selected clinical, pregnancy, and delivery factors, patients with class III obesity were 70% more likely to have severe maternal morbidity at delivery compared to non-obese patients (8.2% vs 4.4%, aOR 1.70, 95%CI 1.30-2.22) whereas those with class I-II obesity were not (4.1% vs 4.4%, aOR 0.87, 95%CI 0.70-1.08).

Conclusions: The results of this national-level analysis in the United States suggested that morbidly obese pregnant patients conceived with ART have increased risks of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes.

Keywords: Assisted reproductive technology; Intrauterine fetal demise; Morbid obesity; Pregnancy; Severe maternal morbidity.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Obesity, Morbid* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Outcome* / epidemiology
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted* / adverse effects