Are antenatal weight management interventions effective in preventing pre-eclampsia? Systematic review of randomised control trials

Lisa Cuiying Ho, Karin Saunders, Deborah Owen, Umi Nursheila Nur Ibrahim, Sohinee Bhattacharya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
24 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Introduction
Pre-eclampsia, defined as the development of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestation, carries significant maternal and foetal risk. Pre-pregnancy BMI is the most useful predictor of pre-eclampsia. As the prevalence of obesity increases, prevention of pre-eclampsia by weight management strategies needs to be trialed.

Aims and objectives
To review the randomised controlled trials studying clinical effectiveness of antenatal weight management interventions compared to routine care in decreasing the incidence of pre-eclampsia in women with BMI 26 kg/m2 or greater.

Methods
Electronic bibliographic databases were searched using a systematic search strategy to identify relevant trials. All trials involving weight management during pregnancy were considered. Using pre-determined inclusion criteria, six trials were included in this review and were independently assessed using standardised evaluation criteria.

Results
Three studies found a significant difference in gestational weight gain; amongst the intervention groups, the smallest was 5.0 kg, whereas the largest was 13.6 kg. In sub-group analysis, one trial found a significant difference in the incidence of pre-eclampsia between adherent (2/90) and non-adherent participants (5/26). However, no significant difference was found in the overall incidence of pre-eclampsia across all intervention and control groups.

Conclusion
There was no evidence to suggest that antenatal weight management interventions were effective in reducing the incidence of pre-eclampsia in women with a BMI ¿ 26 kg/m2.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-349
Number of pages9
JournalPregnancy Hypertension
Volume2
Issue number4
Early online date18 Mar 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • obesity
  • overweight
  • body mass index
  • pre-eclampsia
  • systematic review

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Are antenatal weight management interventions effective in preventing pre-eclampsia? Systematic review of randomised control trials'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this