Abstract
Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension remains a major global cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity despite medical advancements. Since there are now few effective treatments available, prevention and the discovery of the underlying causes and risk factors are crucial.
Goals and objectives: The current study aims to calculate risk variables, maternal and foetal outcomes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension in pregnant women in maternity hospitals.
Material and Methods: The current study was a multicenter, prospective observational study that included pregnant women older than 20 weeks of gestation. The criteria used to classify gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and severe pre-eclampsia according to AICOG guidelines were BP readings of >140/90 mm Hg with traces of 1+ or more albuminuria.
Results: A total of 432 patients were considered for the study after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria; the incidence was 7.28%. Age under 25 years old (51.32%), 33-36 weeks pregnant at the time of diagnosis (41.2%), and nullipara patients (48.15%) were the most prevalent characteristics. At the time of initial diagnosis, gestational hypertension (42.13%), non-severe preeclampsia (30.56%), severe preeclampsia (19.44%), and eclampsia (7.87%) were all associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension in the current study. Patients with gestational hypertension in particular advanced to the preeclampsia group, and 4 of these instances experienced postpartum convulsions. The majority of patients (66.20%) were delivered vaginally. In the current study, maternal problems included eclampsia (9.72%), postpartum haemorrhage (8.80%), abruptio placentae (7.87%), and partial HELLP (6.94%). Other delivery methods included emergency LSCS (19.91%), elective LSCS (7.87%), vacuum delivery (4.17%), and forceps delivery (1.85%). Five instances had DIC and severe eclampsia. The majority of newborns (72.59%) had birth weights greater than 2500 g and (90.24%) had APGAR scores below 8 at 5 minutes after birth. IUGR (7.41%), prematurity (14.81%), low birth weight infants (17.13%), respiratory distress syndrome (9.72%), meconium aspiration (6.02%), and NICU hospitalisation (20.83%) were the neonatal problems that were detected. Intrauterine death (1.85%), stillbirth (3.24%), neonatal death (3.24%), and the remaining newborns were released with the mother were the neonatal outcomes reported.
Conclusion: Eclampsia and preeclampsia are still major sources of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women and their unborn children.
Keywords: Preeclampsia, eclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, maternal morbidity