Association of maternal pre-pregnancy or first trimester body mass index with neurodevelopmental impairment or death in extremely low gestational age neonates

Objective To compare the rates of death or survival with severe neurodevelopmental impairment (sNDI) at 2 years among extremely preterm infants in relation to pre-pregnancy or first-trimester maternal body mass index (BMI). Methods This retrospective cohort study included extremely preterm infants (gestational age 22 0/7 –26 6/7 weeks). The study was conducted at National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network sites. The primary outcome was death or sNDI at 2 years. Results Data on the primary outcome were available for 1208 children. Death or sNDI was not different among the three groups: 54.9% in normal, 56.1% in overweight, and 53.4% in obese group ( p = 0.39). There was no significant difference in mortality, sNDI, moderate/severe cerebral palsy, Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID)-III cognitive composite score <70, BSID-III language composite score <70 in adjusted models. Conclusion Neurodevelopmental outcome was not significantly associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI among extreme preterm infants.