Comparison of the Frequency of Failed Induction of Labor in Obese Versus Non-Obese Women with Post-Date Pregnancy

Masooda Rasheed; Sobia Nawaz  Malik; Sara Malik; Shazia Syed; Hina Hanif; Tabinda khalid

Masooda Rasheed Senior Registrar, Dept of Obs and Gynae DHQ hospital Rawalpindi,
Sobia Nawaz Malik Associate Professor, Dept of Obs and Gynae Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi
Sara Malik Gynecologist Dhq hospital
Shazia Syed Ex- Professor, Dept of Obs and Gynae, Rawalpindi medical university, Rawalpindi
Hina Hanif Associate professor radiology, Rawalpindi medical university, Rawalpindi
Tabinda khalid Senior Registrar Dhq teaching hospital

Abstract

Objective: To compare the frequency of failed induction of labor in obese and non-obese women with post-date pregnancies.

Methodology: This prospective cohort study took place at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Rawalpindi, spanning from January 2020 to December 2020. This study involved 128 pregnant women aged between 18-35 years, presenting with post-date pregnancy (≥42 weeks of gestation), who were categorized as cases (BMI ≥30 Kg/m2) and controls (BMI <30 Kg/m2). The outcome variable was the failure of labor induction, labeled as such if the woman failed to deliver vaginally within 24 hours of induction or if the trial was terminated due to fetal distress. The frequency of failed induction was compared between obese and non-obese women, and relative risk were estimated.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 25.65±3.56 years, while the mean gestational age was 43.27±0.99 weeks. The Bishop score ranged from 1 to 7 with a mean of 3.95±1.90.65 (50.8%) women had a Bishop Score ≤3. Induction of labor failed in 58 (45.3%) women with post-date pregnancy. The frequency of induction failure was significantly higher among obese women compared to non-obese women (59.4% vs. 31.3%; p-value=0.001; 95% CIRR=1.90).

Conclusion: In the present study, maternal obesity was associated with increased risk of induction failure in pregnant women with post-date pregnancy.