Maternal anemia and pregnancy outcomes: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women diagnosed with anemia in pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of California live births from 2007-2012, linked to maternal and infant hospital discharge records. Relative risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes were calculated for women with and without anemia.

RESULTS: Anemic mothers were more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, placental abruption, or chorioamnionitis, or require a blood transfusion or admission to the intensive care unit (aRRs 1.2-6.8). Infants born to anemic mothers were more likely to be born preterm (8.9% versus 6.5%), but not more likely to suffer morbidities associated with prematurity.

CONCLUSION: In a population-based study, the diagnosis of anemia in pregnancy carries a higher risk of peri-partum, intra-partum, and post-partum complications for the mother, and a higher risk of preterm birth for the infant.