Maternal body mass index does not affect performance of fetal electrocardiography

E. Margo Graatsma, Jena Miller, Eduard J.H. Mulder, Christopher Harman, Ahmet A. Baschat, Gerard H.A. Visser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

The obesity epidemic challenges traditional antenatal fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring technologies. Doppler signals in particular are attenuated. We sought to evaluate whether the performance of a novel transabdominal fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) device (AN24, Monica Healthcare) is influenced by body mass index (BMI). We performed a prospective observational study of singleton pregnancies (gestational age [GA] 20 to 41 weeks) monitored overnight with fECG. Recording quality ([RQ] %) of both the best hour and the total recording time of the FHR record were related to BMI. Two hundred four women were monitored. BMI ranged from 16.0 to 50.7 (median BMI 26.9). The correlation coefficient (with 95% confidence interval [CI]) between BMI and RQ was -0.35 (CI-0.60;-0.03) for the gestational age group 20+0 to 25+6 weeks, -0.08 (CI-0.28; 0.13) for GA 26+0 to 33+6 weeks, and -0.20 (CI-0.40; 0.03) for GA group ≥34+0 weeks. Median RQ in obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was 97.4, 98.9, and 100%, respectively. BMI has no clinically significant influence on recording quality of FHR monitored with fECG. It can therefore be considered a good method for monitoring the fetal condition in pregnancies of obese women.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)573-577
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican journal of perinatology
Volume27
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BMI
  • Fetal electrocardiography
  • fetal heart rate monitoring
  • obesity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Maternal body mass index does not affect performance of fetal electrocardiography'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this