Association Between Maternal Co-morbidities and Cesarean Delivery Outcomes: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: The rate of cesarean delivery is increasing worldwide despite alarming potential risks. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between maternal co-morbidities and adverse outcomes of cesarean sections. Methods: This study was conducted at Alzahra Hospital in Rasht, Iran, during 2023. Demographic data of pregnant women, their co-morbidities, and cesarean outcomes, defined as mortality or complications including postoperative ICU admission and the first-minute neonate’s Apgar score, were recorded. The relationship between maternal co-morbidities, the number of co-morbidities, cesarean section outcomes, and the first-minute neonate’s Apgar score were analyzed. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, chi-squared test, and two independent t-tests were used. Results: The data from 246 women were analyzed. Gestational diabetes mellitus (36.2%) was the most common co-morbidity. More than 90% of babies had an Apgar score of 7 - 10. Regarding the relationship between maternal co-morbidities and unwanted outcomes, no statistically significant association was found except for hypertensive disorders (P = 0.003). Apgar scores were not affected by maternal co-morbidities (P = 0.183). No cases of mortality were reported. Conclusions: Despite a notable number of maternal co-morbidities, limited adverse outcomes with no mortality were documented, emphasizing the role of cohesive teamwork in improving outcomes.