A comparative study of pregnancy outcome among women with preeclampsia and normotensive at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific multisystem disease and it is associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Any factor(s) which could reliably predict the likelihood of serious complications would be very valuable in predicting the associated adverse outcome. Objective of this study compare maternal and fetal outcomes of preeclamptic patients with normotensive control in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.Method: This was a 4-year retrospective case-control study of the pregnancy outcomes among preeclamptic and normotensive women managed in our facility between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2015. Data analysis was done using Epi Info software 7.2.1.Results: During the study period there were 6,585 deliveries among which 92 of the patients were managed for preeclampsia. This gives a prevalence of 1.4% or 14 per 1000 deliveries. There was no difference in the age and parity of the control. Most of the preeclamptic patients managed over the study period were unbooked for antenatal care in the facility (p value <0.0001). Preeclamptic patients were more likely to be delivered preterm (p value was <0.0001), and by caesarean section compared to the control. They were also more likely to have babies with low birth weights and poorer fetal outcomes. There was no difference in maternal mortality between both groups.Conclusion: Preeclampsia is associated with the unbooked status and poorer perinatal outcome compared with normotensive women. There is need to encourage women to book for antenatal care for prompt identification and management of these women.

Penggunaan Anti-Hipertensi Sebagai Terapi Untuk Hipertensi Selama Kehamilan : Telaah Pustaka Sistematik

“…Wanita dengan diagnosis preeklamsia cenderung mengalami persalinan prematur dan meningkatkan risiko persalinan sesar yang dapat mengakibatkan berat badan bayi rendah saat lahir (Obi et al, 2019). Hipertensi selama kehamilan dan preeklamsia meningkatkan risiko terjadinya kematian prematur (Wang et al, 2021).…”

Antihypertensive Medications for Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disorder during pregnancy, which occurs in 5–10% of pregnancies, and causes poor mortality and morbidity for both mother and child [ 1 , 2 ]. In the early term of pregnancy, the blood pressure (BP) generally drops temporarily as an adaptation process, but then increases as the pregnancy progresses [ 3 ].…”

“…Uncontrolled hypertension causes 35.6% of women with severe preeclampsia to deliver the offspring immediately [ 23 ]. Premature delivery is common among these women, in addition to an increased risk of undergoing a cesarean section and having babies with low birth weight [ 2 ]. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and preeclampsia also increase the risk of preterm deaths [ 24 ].…”