Sociodemographic and Clinical Features of Pregnant Mothers with Normal and Low Albumin Levels

Abstract

Background: Although many clinicians consider low serum albumin level as one of the potential laboratory-findings in managing pregnant mothers, generally it is not included as a prognostic factor. But hypoalbuminemia is often associated with proteinuria and may also have some correlation with 24-h urine protein level. In Bangladesh, we have very limited research-based information regarding the sociodemographic and clinical features of pregnant mothers with normal and low albumin levels. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic and clinical features of pregnant mothers with normal and low albumin levels. Methods: This prospective observational study was done at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2020. A total of 96 mother-baby pairs were selected using the purposive sampling method. Women with single full-term pregnancy based on the fundal height on Naegele’s rule irrespective of any mode of delivery was included in this study. Mothers with normal albumin levels (3.6-5.2 gm/dl) were defined as group A and mothers with low albumin levels (<3.6 g/dl) as group B. Statistical analyses of the results were obtained by using window-based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-22). Results: In this study, in analyzing the maternal serum albumin levels of participants, we observed that 81% of patients were with normal and 19% were with low-level serum albumin. More than half (55.1%) of our respondents belonged to the age of 18-23 years in group A and 12 (66.7%) in group B. The majority of the respondents of both groups lived in rural areas, were housewives, completed primary education, and underwent cesarean section. But, in analyzing the BMI, family status, gravida status, and antenatal checkup we got some differences between the groups. Besides this, it was observed that more than half (56.4%) of the babies were male in group A and 9 (50.0%) babies in group B. The majority (94.9%) of the babies’ birth weights were ≥2.5 kg in group A and the same weight was found among 4 (22.0%) in group B. Conclusion: A preconception regarding the sociodemographic and clinical features of pregnant mothers with normal and low albumin levels may be helpful for health professionals in ensuring better delivery outcomes among pregnant mothers. Maternal serum albumin was significantly associated with the birth weight of babies in multivariate analysis. But negatively correlated with newborn birth weight which is statistically significant.