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Am J Perinatol 1998; 15(9): 515-522
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-993976
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1998 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Maternal Hematologic Changes During Pregnancy and the Effect of Iron Status on Preterm Delivery in a West Los Angeles Population

Anna Maria Siega-Riz1 , Linda S. Adair1 , Calvin J. Hobel2
  • 1Departments of MCH & Nutrition, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to document the prevalence of anemia and high hema-tocrit during pregnancy and examine their effect on delivering preterm in a predominantly Hispanic population. The sample consisted of women receiving prenatal care from the public health clinics in the West Los Angeles from 1983 to 1986 (n = 7589). Multivariate logistic regression was used to isolate the role of anemia and high hemat-ocrit from other factors that may influence birth outcome. The prevalence of anemia was approximately 9% at the initiation of prenatal care and at 28-32 weeks' gestation. Only anemia at 28-32 weeks was significantly associated with a preterm birth, even after adjusting for several confounders [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.83 95% Cl = 1.21, 2.77]. A high hematocrit that occurred in 9.6% of the population at 28-32 weeks was inversely associated with a preterm birth (AOR 0.78, 95% Cl = 0.44, 1.39). There was little differentiation of these risk factors when analyzing the etiological pathways of a preterm birth. These results indicate for the first time in a predominantly Hispanic population that despite routine iron supplementation, anemia still occurs in pregnant women and it can predict a preterm delivery.

Keywords

Anemia - preterm births - hispanics

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