Correlation between oligohydramnios and anaemia in the third trimester of pregnancy: A study in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Maintaining a normal amniotic fluid index and normal haemoglobin level is crucial for normal fetal development. Their reduction can lead to maternal and fetal morbidity in the form of operative delivery and poor perinatal outcomes such as low birth weight. There is an association between oligohydramnios and anaemia, although there is a scarcity of this correlation in the literature. Early detection of oligohydramnios can improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the association between oligohydramnios and anaemia during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Methodology: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at NESCOM Hospital, Pakistan. The study spanned from August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022.
Results: The study included 109 pregnant individuals with oligohydramnios, resulting in an incidence of 22% among the total of 551 deliveries during the study period. The average age of participants was 29.75 years. The average gestational age was 33.52 weeks, with a range of 28 to 38 weeks. The analysis indicated that 44.03% of cases with oligohydramnios were associated with anaemia, followed by idiopathic causes (41.28%). Pearson's correlation revealed a significant association between oligohydramnios and anaemia (r = 0.307, p = 0.001), supporting the hypothesis of a potential interconnection between these two conditions. Regarding delivery outcomes, 81.6% underwent cesarean section, emphasizing the need for careful management in cases of oligohydramnios and anaemia. Neonatal outcomes indicated that 1.8% and 44.5% of neonates were extremely low birth weight and low birth weight, respectively.
Conclusion: This study provides empirical evidence supporting a significant association between
oligohydramnios and anaemia in the third trimester.