Abstract :
Introduction: Hypertension in pregnancy is one of the most common threat to the mother and fetus all over the world, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. It is observed more among the nulliparous women and the elderly ladies, with the chronic hypertension superimposed by preeclampsia, increasing the chances of morbidity and mortality in both mother and fetus.
Materials and Methods: 492 pregnant women who had come to the hospital for delivery, and who were diagnosed with hypertension recording a blood pressure of more than 140/90 on at least 2 occasions were included into the study.
Results: The most common age group of the expectant mothers with HTN was 21-30 years. Most of the patients had gestational hypertension or pregnancy induced hypertension, while eclampsia was seen in 4.3% of the cases. Preeclampsia was observed in 12.8% and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension was seen in 5.3%. The most common outcome was preterm delivery in 39.6% of the cases.
Low birth weight was seen in 20.9%, IUGR in 13.4%, NICU admission in 23.4%. Mortality was seen in 5.1% of the cases, with 3.9% being in utero and 1.2% within a week of birth.
Conclusion: Hypertension during pregnancy results in complications leading to severe fetal morbidity and mortality. Thereby, screening of the expectant mothers during gestation would help to identify the condition at the earliest and prevent compilations.
Keyword :
Gestational hypertension, Preeclampsia, Eclampsia, Fetal outcome.