A cohort study of dysmenorrhea and risk of low birth weight

Abstract

Objective

Little is known about the association between maternal history of dysmenorrhea and perinatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal history of dysmenorrhea and low birth weight (LBW).

Methods

A total of 6754 pregnant women were recruited from the ongoing prospective cohort study in Guangxi, China, in 2015–2018. Information on the maternal history of dysmenorrhea was obtained by questionnaires including visual analog scale (VAS) questions during the first antenatal care visit. The association of maternal history of dysmenorrhea and LBW was evaluated using logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounding factors (infant sex, maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (kg/m²), gestational age, alcohol use during pregnancy, passive smoking, and occupational status).

Results

Mothers with a history of dysmenorrhea were more likely to give birth to LBW infants (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12, 1.83). Among women with a history of dysmenorrhea, women ≥29 years old (adjusted OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.02, 2.10), multiparous (adjusted OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.12, 2.25), and women gave birth to female infant (adjusted OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.11, 2.11) had a higher risk of LBW.

Conclusions

As the first cohort study to investigate the association between maternal history of dysmenorrhea and LBW, our study shows that dysmenorrhea may increase the risk of LBW.

Keywords:

• Dysmenorrhea
• low birth weight
• pregnancy
• cohort study
• risk factors

Acknowledgements

This study is the result of the joint efforts of many people and institutions. We are grateful to all the participants in this study. We are also very grateful to the following institutions for their strong support and cooperation: Jingxi People’s Hospital, Jingxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Longan People’s Hospital, Tiandong People’s Hospital, Tiandong Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Tianyang People’s Hospital, Tianyang Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Pingguo People’s Hospital, Pingguo Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Debao People’s Hospital, and Debao Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21906032, 81860587, 81903285], the Youth Science Foundation of Guangxi Medical University [No. GXMUYSF201822], and the Guangxi Key Research Program [No. AB17195012).