Pregnancy outcomes in women with iron deficiency: a retrospective, monocenter study

Abstract

Purpose Our aim is to investigate the association between iron deficiency examined in the first trimester of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.Materials and methods In a retrospective cohort study, 482 pregnant women were included. Blood samples were examined for hematological status and serum ferritin in the first trimester, and for hemoglobin before and after delivery. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between women with iron deficiency diagnosed in the first trimester (study group; n = 147), and women without iron deficiency (control group; n=335). The adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes were determined. Medical data were extracted from clinical records of pregnant women who attended antenatal care and delivered at the University Hospital Basel between 2017 and 2019. Results Excluding macrosomia, iron deficiency detected early in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with iron supplements. Macrosomia was significant increased in women with iron deficiency without concomitant increase of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (6.5% (10/153) vs. 1.7% (6/347); P=0.005). Emergency caesarean section doubled in women with normal iron status (8.2% (12/147) vs. 17.0% (57/335); P=0.011). Conclusion Excluding macrosomia, iron deficiency detected early in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal, and neonatal outcomes in iron supplemented women.