International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 79 (2002) 93–100 0020-7292/02/$ - see front matter  2002 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S0020-7292 Ž 02 . 00225-4 Article Maternal and perinatal outcome in varying degrees of anemia Monika Malhotra *, J.B. Sharma , S. Batra , S. Sharma , N.S. Murthy , R. Arora a, a a b b a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India a Department of Biostatistics, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India b Received 5 April 2002; received in revised form 2 August 2002; accepted 7 August 2002 Abstract Objectives: To analyze the maternal and perinatal outcome in varying degrees of anemia. Methods: A total of 447 pregnant women were divided into group I (Hb)11 g%, ns123 women), group II (Hb 9–10.9 g%, ns214 women), group III (Hb 7–8.9 g%, ns79 women) group IV (Hb-7 g%, ns31 women). Their maternal and perinatal outcome, mode of delivery, duration of labor and postpartum complications were noted and analyzed using multiple logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (95% CI) for duration of labor, mode of delivery and low birth babies. Chi square or Fisher’s exact test was employed for difference in proportions and Student’s t-test for testing difference between means. Results: Mean age (27"4.25 years) and number of women with parity )3 were highest in group IV. The patients with Hb-8.9 g% had a 4–6-fold higher risk of prolonged labor compared to Hb)11 g%. The odds ratios for abnormal delivery (cesarean and operative vaginal deliveries) showed a 4.8-fold higher risk (95% CI 1.82, 12.7) in patients with Hb F7.5 g%. The mean birth weight was maximum in the 9.6–10.5 g% category that fell with both increasing and decreasing hemoglobin values, being lowest in Group IV. Women in Group II had lowest number of low birth weight and IUGR babies, no stillbirths and neonatal deaths, lowest induction and operative delivery rates. Conclusions: Mild anemia fared best in maternal and perinatal outcome. Severe anemia was associated with increased low birth weight babies, induction rates, operative deliveries and prolonged labor.  2002 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Anemia; Maternal outcome; Perinatal outcome; Hemoglobin; Low birth weight; Labor 1. Introduction Anemia is the most common medical disorder in pregnancy and has a varied incidence, etiology *Corresponding author. 189 Sainik Vihar, Pitampura, Delhi 110034, India. Tel.: q91-11-7015494, 7024110. E-mail address: monikachawla@hotmail.com (M. Malhotra). and degree of severity in different populations, being more common in third world countries w1x. Some authors have blamed anemia to be associated with higher maternal mortality and morbidity and adverse perinatal outcome w2–5x. This study focus- es not only on maternal and perinatal outcome but also the affect of anemia on labor, mode of delivery and postpartum events in pregnant wom- en, in varying degrees of anemia.