Weight retention and biochemical indicators in the short term postpartum period

Abstract

Introduction: postpartum weight retention implies an increase in the accumulation of adipose, subcutaneous and/or visceral tissue; with impacts on women's cardiometabolic health.

Objectives: to describe biochemical indicators according to short-term postpartum weight retention, in healthy women and of adequate weight to capture pregnancy. Methods: a descriptive observational study was conducted at the "Chiqui Gómez Lubián" polyclinic (January 2017 - August 2018) with 119 women during their short term postpartum period. Quantitative changes in body weight from the time of pregnancy detection to 18 months after delivery, were analyzed and retaining and non-retaining women were identified. The metabolic status of them was analyzed using biochemical indicators: glycaemia, complete lipidogram, uric acid, insulin resistance, lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index. Medians and interquartile ranges were analyzed and pertinent statistical tests were applied.

Results: female retainers prevailed, with less than five kg (32.8%) and with five kg or more (29.4%). Female retainers weighing five kg or more had the highest median values of: glycaemia (4.90 mmol/L), total cholesterol (4.30 mmol/L), triglycerides (0.94 mmol/L), c-LDL (2.65 mmol/L), c-VLDL (0.43 mmol/L), lipid accumulation product (33.62 mmol/L), visceral adiposity index (1.81 mmol/L) and insulin resistance (8.19); and the lowest values of c-HDL (1.03 mmol/L). The biochemical indicators studied in short-term postpartum weight retention conditions in healthy women of adequate weight at the time of pregnancy diagnosis, constitute guiding tools in the clinical epidemiological work carried out from primary health care.