Gestational weight gain as a predictor of macrosomia and low birth weight: a systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive capacity of gestational weight gain recommendations regarding low birth weight (LBW) and neonatal macrosomia, proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Latin American Center of Perinatology (CLAP). Materials and methods: The bibliographic search was performed in PubMed, Embase (via Ovid), Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, Scopus, LILACS and SciELO. Methodological quality was evaluated using QUADAS 2. Results: A total of 1,192 articles were identified, only 5 articles met the inclusion criteria, no study evluated the CLAP recomendations. Sensitivity and specificity to predict LBW and macrosomia varied widely depending on which country the study took place. In the Latin American cohorts, the sensitivity for predicting LBW ranged from 62.8% to 74% and the specificity from 61.7% to 68%, while the sensitivity for predicting macrosomia was 28.8% and the specificity 43.8%. In most studies the positive predictive value was less than 25%, and the negative predictive value was more than 90%. Most studies had high risk of bias and applicability problems in patient selection. Conclusions: The limited methodological quality and representativeness of the studied cohorts, probable unadjusted confounding factors and modest values of sensitivity and specificity suggest the need to develop studies aimed at providing recommendations that fit the epidemiological characteristics of the Peruvian population.