Hemoglobin Levels, Anemia, and Their Associations with Body Mass Index among Pregnant Women in Hail Maternity Hospital, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The level of association between hemoglobin level/anemia and obesity during pregnancy is not yet fully understood. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hail Maternity Hospital in northern Saudi Arabia from March to May 2023 to assess the associations between hemoglobin levels, anemia, and obesity among pregnant women. Reproductive history was gathered through a questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated/computed from the women’s weight and height. Linear and binary regression analyses were performed. A total of 334 pregnant women were enrolled. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age and parity were 33.2 (27.4–37.8) years and 3 (1–5), respectively. Of the 334 women, 52 (15.6%) were normal weight, while 87 (26.0%) were overweight and 195 (58.4%) were obese. In the multiple linear regression, parity (coefficient = −0.121, p = 0.001) and BMI (coefficient = 0.030, p = 0.006) were negatively associated with the hemoglobin level. Ninety-nine (26.9%) women had anemia. In the multivariate analysis, primiparity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.30–0.97), increasing BMI (AOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.89–0.97), and obesity (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.16–0.61) were associated with decreased ORs of anemia. Increasing parity was associated with increased ORs of anemia (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.05–1.32). Being overweight was not associated with anemia (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.27–1.16). In the current study, a high hemoglobin level and lower prevalence of anemia were observed among obese pregnant women.