Waist to Hip Circumference Ratio as a Predictor of Preeclampsia

Objective: To assess whether waist to hip circumference ratio at the first antenatal visit predicts risk of developing preeclampsia later in pregnancy. Methods: Prospective study on Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies (n = 500, median age 29 years, interquartile range 21-37 years, all primigravidas) were recruited at their first antenatal visits. Using standardized methods, weights, heights determined (for calculation of body mass index [BMI]), and waist circumferences of all women. Results: 26 women developed preeclampsia (hypertension with proteinuria). WHR, BMI, and BW early in pregnancy were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group (p 0.001). WHR, BMI, and BW positively correlated with the development of preeclampsia on univariate regression analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. When the WHR predictive of the development of preeclampsia was set at 0.85, the sensitivity was 76.9% (20/26), which was significantly better than that of 25 of BMI (57.7%, 15/26; p 0.05). Conclusion: Higher WHR is a significant predictor of the development of preeclampsia. This relation is irrespective of overall adiposity.