Quality of Life during Third Trimester of Pregnant Women with Normal Pre-pregnant Weight and Obese Pre-pregnant Women by Asia-specific BMI Criteria

Abstract

Objective:      To compare quality of life between pre-pregnant normal weight and obese women during third trimester of pregnancy in Phramongkutklao Hospital.

Method:          This is a cross-sectional study. Pregnant women during third trimester who seek for antenatal care (ANC) at Phramongkutklao Hospital from August 2014 to March 2015 were enrolled to this research by convenience selection. The participants were classified into 2 groups, normal pre-pregnant weight (105 persons) and obese pregnant women (105 persons). All participants was reviewed demographic data, obstetrical and gynecologic history from and ANC record form and a self-administered SF-12 questionnaire was done. Higher score means better quality of life and each group were compared in both physiological and mental component, including 8 dimensions.

Results:          Median pre-pregnant BMI of normal pregnant women is 20.4 kg/m² while obese pregnant women is 26 kg/m² Weight gaining between normal weight and obese pregnant women group were 13.8 and 10.7 kg, respectively. Only underlying hypertension and diabetes mellitus showed significant difference (p=0.008). Meanwhile, familial hypertension and diabetic mellitus history were found significant higher in obese pregnant than normal weight group. In physiological and mental components of both groups were not different significantly (p=0.181) but bodily pain dimension was higher in the obese women than the normal weight group significantly (p=0.044) 

Conclusion:     In conclusion, the quality of life during third trimester of the obese pregnant women were not different from the normal weight pregnant women in both physical and mental component. But the obese pregnant women had statistically significant less quality of life only in bodily pain dimension than the normal weight women.