Hematological Profile of Normal Pregnant Women in Western India: A Cohort Study in Rural Population of Gujarat

Abstract

Anemia is a common problem during pregnancy, and no reference values for haematological parameters during pregnancy have been reported in the rural population. Present study was aimed to study the hematological profile of normal pregnant females of western India. The prime objectives of present study were to determine the hematological parameters in all three different trimesters of rural pregnant women and their comparison with matched nonpregnant control group.  A longitudinal study was undertaken in a cohort of 302 normal, apparently healthy rural pregnant women who attended the Dhiraj General Hospital's antenatal clinic in Vadodara, Gujarat, India. Apparently healthy 94 nonpregnant women matched with age and socioeconomic status was studied as control. Blood sugar, Hb concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total and differential leucocyte concentration (TLC & DLC), red cell distribution width (RDW), red blood cell count (RBC) and platelet count were studied in both groups.  Sumandeep Vidyapeeth's ethical standards were followed during the research. The ANOVA test was used to analyse data from different trimesters, and the unpaired t-test was used to compare pregnant and nonpregnant females (\(\alpha\) error was set at 5% level). Statistical significant variations were recorded for platelet count, RDW, PCV, TLC and DLC in all trimesters during pregnancy, while other parameters like RBC count, blood indices, Hb concentration remain unaltered during pregnancy. Comparison of pregnant with nonpregnent shows significant changes (p < 0.05). Our results represent the rural population data and prepared a base for reference value for this ethnic group. Although pregnancy affects the haematological parameters, our results evident that pregnancy is a state of adaptation.