Assessment of the effect of maternal diseases suffered during pregnancy on the weight of the newborn. The regional aspect

Low birth weight is a leading predictor of neonatal morbidity and mortality, as well as a factor associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders later in life. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the birth rate of children with hypotrophy in the Volga region over the past five years has remained consistently high (4–6 %), which underscores the need for accurate identification of regional risk factors associated with maternal diseases during pregnancy.

The aim of the study was to study the effect of maternal diseases suffered during pregnancy on the weight of the newborn, as well as to identify regional features of the prevalence of these diseases and their impact on the risk of fetal hypotrophy.

Materials and methods. The study included data on 5,477 newborns, of which 5,161 children had a normal birth weight, and 316 children were diagnosed with fetal hypotrophy. The following maternal diseases were selected for analysis: hypertension, preeclampsia, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (including gestational), urinary tract diseases, anemia, thyroid diseases, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and fetoplacental insufficiency. Statistical methods were used to assess the incidence of diseases and their effect on newborn weight, including univariate analysis of variance and logistic regression.

Results of the study. The analysis showed that the presence of hypertension, preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus, SARS-CoV-2 infection and fetoplacental insufficiency in the mother is significantly associated with a lower body weight of the newborn (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed the most significant risk factors for fetal hypotrophy, among which fetoplacental insufficiency and SARS-CoV-2 infection have the greatest impact (OR 8.50 and 6.00, respectively).

Conclusion. Maternal diseases suffered during pregnancy are significant risk factors affecting the weight of the newborn. The revealed data emphasize the importance of monitoring and timely treatment of hypertensive and diabetic conditions, infections and other pathologies during pregnancy to improve perinatal outcomes.

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