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Background Back pain is a common presenting complaint during pregnancy and it is often being considered as part of the pregnancy process. The purpose of the study is to investigate the prevalence of back pain in pregnancy, risk factors and its impact on the quality of life in pregnant women. Materials and methods Three hundred and fifty-eight pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Centre were recruited in this cross-sectional study from October 2011 until April 2012. The back pain was further classified into lumbar pain and posterior pelvic pain. The severity of back pain was assessed using visual analoque scale (VAS) and the functional limitation was assessed using the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ). Result The prevalence of back pain in pregnancy was 84.6%. Occupation and previous history of back pain were associated with back pain in pregnancy. In terms of functional limitation disability, total ODQ score was statistically significant correlate with severity of pain (VAS score). Personal care, sitting, standing, sex life and social life were significantly affected. Conclusion The risk factors for back pain in pregnancy were type of occupation and history of back pain. The higher VAS score, the more ODQ will be affected. Personal care, sitting, standing, sex life and social life were significantly affected.

Background There is increasing evidence that supports the contribution of vitamin D deficiency in metabolic disturbances among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the PCOS and normal women. Materials and methods A case-controlled study was conducted in a teaching hospital over a 6-month duration from June 2015 to January 2016. A total of 90 women, who consisted of 45 women with PCOS (study group) and 45 women without PCOS (control group), were recruited. Results The final analysis was of 80 women only and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was high between both groups, i.e. 93.7% but there was no significant difference (p = 0.874). Nevertheless, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in the study group as compared to the control group (27.5% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.013). There was no statistically significant correlation between vitamin D level with clinical [age, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DPB, respectively)] and metabolic parameters (fasting glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein) among women with PCOS. However, height was positively correlated (r = 0.338, p = 0.033) and the contrary waist-hip ratio was negatively correlated with vitamin D level (r = -0.605, p = 0.048). Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high in our study population. Nevertheless, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher among women with PCOS as compared to women without PCOS.

Background Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a worldwide epidemic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, its predictive factors and the association with pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods This was a prospective observational study in a tertiary teaching hospital over 2-years' duration from August 2013 to August 2015. A total of 680 women who completed 37 weeks of pregnancy were recruited. Results Five hundred and seventy-five patients were enrolled in the final analysis for pregnancy outcomes (response rate of 84.6%). There were 71.7% patients who exhibited vitamin D deficiency, 21.0% vitamin D insufficiency and only 7.3% who had adequate levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-vit D) of more than 30 ng/mL. There was no statistically significant association between vitamin D status with maternal (parity, gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertension, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor, antenatal infection, bacterial vaginosis and anemia) and neonatal outcomes (low birth weight baby and neonatal intensive care unit admission) among the three groups. Conclusion A high prevalence of low vitamin D level among pregnant women at term was seen in this study, however, there was no significant finding observed between vitamin D status and both maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Congenital uterine anomalies have been associated with poor reproductive outcome, which include recurrent miscarriage, abruptio placenta, intra-uterine growth restriction and preterm delivery. Here, we report a case: 36 years old, G3P2, known case of uterine didelphys, with history of preterm birth, who successfully carried her pregnancy till term with weekly intramuscular injection of 250 mg hydroxyprogesterone caproate (®Proluton Depot, Zuellig Pharma).