Health
A link has been found between obesity during pregnancy and an increased risk of sudden, unexpected infant death
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A multi-institutional team of statistical researchers has found a slightly increased risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in babies born to obese mothers. In their studies published in the news JAMA Pediatricsthe group analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) regarding infant mortality records. The magazine also has a Editorial commentary about the team’s research.
Previous research has shown that obesity during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of overall infant mortality, along with a host of health problems for both mothers and children. But until now, little to no research has investigated a link between obesity during pregnancy and SUID.
To learn more about possible SID rates and obesity during pregnancy, the research team examined data from the NCHS with a focus on infant mortality for the years 2015 to 2019. The researchers analyzed all data for live births after 28 weeks’ gestation or later and followed until 364 days after birth. The team then compared deaths from SUID in obese mothers with SUID deaths where the mother was not obese.
They found that of the 19 million babies born during the study period, 16,545 had died from SUID, and of those, 5.4% were due to maternal obesity during pregnancy – figures that translated to 0.74 per 1,000 live births for babies born to non-obese mothers. and 1.47 per 1,000 live births for obese mothers.
The researchers also noted that obese mothers were also more likely to have sleep apnea during pregnancy. Previous research has shown that sleep apnea during pregnancy can lead to a variety of pregnancy-related health problems, such as preeclampsia. Some research has also suggested that it may also have negative effects on fetal growth.
The research team suggests that more research is needed into the increased risk of SUID due to the continued rise in the number of women who are obese during pregnancy.
More information:
Darren Tanner et al, Maternal Obesity and Risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, JAMA Pediatrics (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2455
Jacqueline Maya et al, Maternal Obesity and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death – Off Scale, JAMA Pediatrics (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2459
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Quote: Link found between obesity during pregnancy and an increased risk of sudden unexpected infant death (2024, July 31), retrieved August 2, 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-link-obesity-pregnancy-sudden -unexpected. html
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