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Am J Perinatol 2019; 36(06): 632-640
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1673395
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Association between Maternal Height, Body Mass Index, and Perinatal Outcomes

Nicole E. Marshall
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Frances M. Biel
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Janne Boone-Heinonen
2   School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Dmitry Dukhovny
3   Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Aaron B. Caughey
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
,
Jonathan M. Snowden
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
2   School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
› Author Affiliations Funding N. E. M. is supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (grant number K23HD069520–01A1). J. M. S. and F. M. B. are supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (grant number R00 HD079658–03). J. B. H. is supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (grant number K01-DK1022857).
Further Information

Publication History

02 January 2018

24 August 2018

Publication Date:
06 October 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To test the hypothesis that maternal height is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, controlling for and stratified by maternal body mass index (BMI).

Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of all births in California between 2007 and 2010 (n = 1,775,984). Maternal height was categorized into quintiles, with lowest quintile (≤20%) representing shorter stature and the uppermost quintile (≥80%) representing taller stature. Outcomes included gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia, cesarean, preterm birth (PTB), macrosomia, and low birth weight (LBW). We calculated height/outcome associations among BMI categories, and BMI/outcome associations among height categories, using various multivariable logistic regression models.

Results Taller women were less likely to have GDM, nulliparous cesarean, PTB, and LBW; these associations were similar across maternal BMI categories and persisted after multivariable adjustment. In contrast, when stratified by maternal height, the associations between maternal BMI and birth outcomes varied by specific outcomes, for example, the association between morbid obesity (compared with normal or overweight) and the risk of GDM was weaker among shorter women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.48, 3.28–3.69) than taller women (aOR, 95% CI: 4.42, 4.19–4.66).

Conclusion Maternal height is strongly associated with altered perinatal risk even after accounting for variations in complications by BMI.

Keywords

cesarean - gestational diabetes - maternal height - obesity

Condensation

Maternal height is strongly associated with altered perinatal risk even after accounting for variations in complications by BMI.