The Association Between Maternal Short Stature and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission: A Longitudinal Study in Sabah

Background: The rising number of newborns requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care poses immediate threats to their health and places emotional and financial burdens on families and healthcare systems. This study investigates the direct effect of maternal short stature on NICU admission in Sabah, Malaysia. Methods: A longitudinal study at Hospital Wanita Dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah (HWKKS) from 2018 to 2022 included 254 Malaysian women with singleton pregnancies and neonates born after the 37th week, excluding significant disorders, smoking/alcohol use, fetal death, and malformations. Birth weight, gestational age, and neonatal condition were recorded. The association between maternal height, low birth weight (LBW), and NICU admission was analyzed. Results: LBW prevalence was 15.35%, with an average participant height of 147.37 cm. Maternal stature was significantly associated with LBW, with the shortest quartile (Q1) having the highest risk. LBW was significantly associated with NICU admission, with LBW newborns at a sixfold higher risk. Maternal height was also significantly associated with NICU admission, with Q1 having the highest risk. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve suggested combining Q1 and Q2 for the best prediction of NICU admission, indicating that shorter mothers face a higher risk of neonates requiring NICU care. Conclusion: Maternal short stature could be a valuable predictor of LBW and NICU admission risk. It may be a screening tool to assess these risks in healthcare settings. However, further research is needed to explore this association's underlying mechanisms and potential interventions.