Eclampsia Pre-eclampsia (PE) affects 2-8% of pregnancies and is one of the main causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In a study, researchers suggest that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measured at 17-20 weeks, has good ability to predict the occurrence of PE in healthy nulliparous women. The study findings were published in the Pregnancy Hypertension on 29 August 2021.
Bioelectrical impedance analysis is based on the different conductive and insulating capacities of water and organic tissues. A BIA device emits a minimal and imperceptible electric current, of single (SF-BIA) or multiple (MF-BIA) frequency, that travels through the body to estimate the individual's fat-free mass (FFM), body fat (BF), body water (BW), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM).
Early identification of pregnant women at higher risk for PE would allow the use of interventions to reduce adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Therefore, Dr Maria Regina Torloni and her team conducted a study to assess the ability of BIA in pregnancy to predict the development of PE.
In a prospective cohort study, the researchers included healthy nulliparas who underwent BIA at 17–20 weeks gestation and were followed until delivery. They used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess the ability of BIA measures to predict the occurrence of PE. They further used an adjusted regression model to estimate the probability of developing PE; the Hosmer-Lemeshow test to assess the adequacy of the final model, and ROC curves to assess the sensitivity and specificity of different BIA measures in the prediction of PE.
Key findings of the study:
♦ Among 196 participants, the researchers observed PE in 12 (6.1%) participants.
♦ Upon multivariate model, they found the following BIA measures were associated with the occurrence of PE:
Extracellular water/intracellular water ≤ 0.618,
Skeletal muscle mass ≥ 25 kg and
Body fat percentage ≥ 44%.
♦ They noted that the combination of these three measures had a predictive accuracy of 83.7%; a sensitivity of 83.3%; a specificity of 83.7%, and a negative predictive value of 98.7% for PE.
The authors concluded, "Segmental MF-BIA at 17–20 weeks gestation, had a good capacity to predict the development of PE in healthy nulliparous Brazilian women. Individual BIA measures with the best performances were ECW/ICW, SMM, and BFP. "
For further information:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2021.08.115