Comparison of gestational weight gain z-scores and traditional weight gain measures in relation to perinatal outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conventional measures of gestational weight gain (GWG) are correlated with pregnancy duration, and may induce bias to studies of GWG and perinatal outcomes. A maternal weight-gain-for-gestational-age z-score chart is a new tool that allows total GWG to be classified as a standardised z-score that is independent of gestational duration. Our objective was to compare associations with perinatal outcomes when GWG was assessed using gestational age-standardised z-scores and conventional GWG measures.

Methods

We studied normal-weight (n=522 120) and overweight (n=237 923) women who delivered liveborn, singleton infants in Pennsylvania, 2003-11. GWG was expressed using gestational age-standardised z-scores and three traditional measures: total GWG (kg), rate of GWG (kg p

SUBMITTER: Bodnar LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4299718 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature