Fetal Outcomes in Maternal Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

Background: Maternal anemia caused by iron deficiency is a widespread condition in pregnant females and is a significant risk to fetal and birth development. Despite its proven impact, the association between anemia in the mother and adverse neonatal consequences such as low birth weight, prematurity, and small for gestational age is an area of research. Objective: To assess the frequency of fetal outcomes in patients with maternal iron deficiency anemia. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from September 2024 to February 2025 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra. Methodology: A total of 130 pregnant women aged 18–40 years in their third trimester with singleton pregnancies and diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin <11 g/dL, serum ferritin <15 μg/L, and MCV <82 fL) were enrolled. Patients with conditions such as preeclampsia, diabetes, fetal anomalies, or a history of blood transfusion during pregnancy were excluded. Results: The mean maternal age was 29.1 ± 7.03 years, with a mean gestational age of 38.6 ± 1.48 weeks and a mean BMI of 27.49 ± 3.67 kg/m². Among the participants, 24.6% of infants were small for gestational age, 16.9% were born preterm, and 18.5% had low birth weight. These adverse outcomes were significantly associated with younger maternal age (≤30 years), lower parity (0–3), and lower BMI (≤25 kg/m²). Conclusion: Maternal iron deficiency anemia is a significant risk factor for adverse fetal outcomes, particularly among younger, low-parity mothers with lower BMI.