Effects of low maternal heart rate on fetal growth and birthweight.
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ABSTRACT: Objective
To evaluate the association between birthweight and maternal heart rate (MHR) or heart rate variability (HRV) under resting conditions at 20-24 gestational weeks and 34 weeks or later (34+ weeks).Methods
Data were retrospectively reviewed from the Safe Passage Study, a prospective longitudinal cohort study of alcohol use in pregnancy and birth outcomes in Cape Town, South Africa, between August 2007 and January 2015. Using custom-designed software, MHR and indicators of HRV were obtained from the recorded maternal electrocardiograms and compared with birthweight and z-scores of birthweight adjusted for gestation and gender.Results
Data from 5655 women were included. MHR increased from 84.6 bpm at 20-24 weeks to 88.3 bpm at 34+ weeks. Increasing MHR from 70-80 to 80-90 and 90-100 bpm at 20-24 weeks was associated with increasing birthweight from 2940 to 2998 and 3032 g, respectively (P<0.05). MHR and HRV contributed 29% to the variability associated with birthweight, whereas maternal body mass index at recruitment contributed 44%. Similar associations were observed for MHR at 34+ weeks.Conclusion
The observed association of low maternal heart rate with birthweight might help to identify pregnancies at risk of poor fetal growth.
SUBMITTER: Odendaal H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6610713 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Effects of low maternal heart rate on fetal growth and birthweight.
Odendaal Hein H Kieser Eduard E Nel Daan D Brink Lucy L du Plessis Carlie C Groenewald Coen C Lucchini Maristella M Fifer William P WP Myers Michael M MM
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 20190801 2
<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the association between birthweight and maternal heart rate (MHR) or heart rate variability (HRV) under resting conditions at 20-24 gestational weeks and 34 weeks or later (34+ weeks).<h4>Methods</h4>Data were retrospectively reviewed from the Safe Passage Study, a prospective longitudinal cohort study of alcohol use in pregnancy and birth outcomes in Cape Town, South Africa, between August 2007 and January 2015. Using custom-designed software, MHR and indicators of ...[more]
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