The effect of metabolic syndrome and its components in midpregnancy on neonatal outcomes

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been rising worldwide in recent decades. Determining the associations between metabolic syndrome and its components in midpregnancy with neonatal anthropometric indices and outcomes is a major challenge in both public health and clinical care. Methods: This prospective cohort study was performed on 238 pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Metabolic syndrome was recognized with 3 or more of the following criteria: triglyceride ≥ 247 mg/dL; HDL < 61 mg/dL; GCT ≥ 140 mg/dL; prepregnancy body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2; and blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg. Statistical analysis was performed through descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage, Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, linear and logistic regression in SPSS 21.0. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: There was a significant association between blood hypertriglyceridemia in weeks 24-28 and anthropometric indices, including weight, height, and jaundice, in the first 24 hours of birth. Metabolic syndrome also had a significant relationship with jaundice (P=0.002). The results of linear regression analysis revealed that metabolic syndrome was positively associated with birth weight (B=0.18, P=0.003) and height (B=0.18, P=0.009). Among the components of metabolic syndrome, the results showed a direct relationship between increased blood triglyceride of the mother and newborn’s weight (B=0.11, P=0.011) and height (B=0.14, P=0.007). Also, increased BMI had a significant direct relationship with the newborn’s weight (B=0.11, P=0.023) and height (B=0.12, P=0.023). Moreover, decreased HDL had a significant reverse relationship with the newborn’s weight (B=0.09, P=0.042). Conclusion: Presence of metabolic syndrome and its components in midpregnancy may influence neonatal outcomes, especially anthropometric indices. However, more studies should be conducted to further investigate these relationships.