Factors Associated with Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women Admitted at Ramathibodi Hospital, 1994-1995

Abstract

Objective To study number of women whose blood pressure after admission became normal with no proteinuria. Demographic characteristic and factors which may be associated with preeclampsia were also studied. And to establish whether these factors are different for mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia.

Main variables examined Medical records were abstracted for information regarding maternal age, marital status, body mass index at first prenatal visit, average weight gain, gravidity, previous history of pregnancy-induced hypertension, diabetes mellitus, average mean arterial pressure, hematocrit.

Results of the 488 pregnant women studied 84 (17.21%) became normotensive after admission. The rate of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was 2.69% per total deliveries ; 1.17% mild preeclampsia, 0.39% severe preeclampsia, 0.01%

eclampsia, 0.22% chronic hypertension, 0.32% chronic hypertension with superim posed pregnancy-induced hypertension and 0.57% transient hypertension. By multiple logistic regression, there was no factors associated with preeclampsia. The only risk factor associated with severe preeclampsia was body mass index of greater than or equal to 21 kg/m2 was found to be a protective factor against severe preeclampsia.

Conclusion The result of this study could be used for planning the appropriate care for women with hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. Closed observation should be done in pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia who have body mass index at first prenatal visit less than 21 kg/m².