Search

Objective: To systematically analyze the relationship between maternal anemia and low birth weight. Methods: A search of studies was conducted in the main databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Lilacs), the gray literature, and the reference lists of selected articles. Cohort and case-control studies that met the eligibility criteria were included in the review. There was no limitation on the language or date of publication. Article selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Meta-analyses with random effects, subgroup analyses and meta-regressions were performed. Publication bias was measured using Egger regression and visual funnel plot inspection. Results: A total of 7243 articles were found, of which 71 comprised the systematic review and 68 were included in the meta-analyses. Maternal anemia was associated with low birth weight with an adjusted OR: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.06–1.43) and I2: 58%. The meta-regressions confirmed that the sample size and the methodological quality may partially explain the statistical heterogeneity. Conclusions: Maternal anemia was considered a risk factor for low birth weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of overweight and obese women seeking assisted reproductive care increases, interest in understanding the effects of excess weight on fertility is also increasing. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the associations of overweight and obesity with assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The following databases were searched through March 2019: MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Lilacs, Web of Science, Clinical Trials and SciELO. The keywords used were obesity, overweight and assisted reproduction, as well as similar terms. Articles were selected based on titles and abstracts. Potentially relevant studies were evaluated for inclusion by two reviewers. Subsequently, quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate sources of heterogeneity, as recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. In total, 53 studies with 1,445,406 treatment cycles were included. When analysing one cycle per patient, being overweight or obese was found to have a weak negative impact on clinical pregnancy, livebirth and miscarriage rates; number of mature oocytes; duration of ovarian stimulation; and gonadotropin dosage used among the exposed women. Therefore, an increased body mass index is associated with weak adverse outcomes among women undergoing in-vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This study searched a greater number of research databases and analysed a greater number of studies with good methodological quality and low or moderate heterogeneity, including a greater number of assisted reproduction treatment cycles, than other studies conducted to date. Nevertheless, more robust studies on the subject are needed to elucidate other aspects related to exposure and outcomes., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)