Abstract :
Background: Untreated hypertension, especially preeclampsia, causes adverse maternal outcomes such as pulmonary edema, renal impairment, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, while uncontrolled gestational hypertension compromises fetal outcomes by increasing the odds of preterm delivery and low birth weight. Despite our enhanced healthcare infrastructure, HDP remains a significant contributor to maternal mortality in India and the rest of Southeast Asia.Aims and Objective: Our study aims to compare pregnancy outcomes in women with chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia to identify risk profiles and inform targeted interventions for better maternal and neonatal health.Methodology: This observational study was conducted from July to December 2024 at a tertiary care center in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, where 1059 women were screened for hypertensive disorders, with 141 participants ultimately included. A comparative analysis of five hypertensive groups was conducted to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes.Results: The preeclampsia/eclampsia group showed higher rates of Caesarean deliveries (64.6%), HELLP syndrome (18.8%), acute renal failure (4.1%), pulmonary oedema (2.1%), and placental abruption (20.8%), all significant with p < 0.01. This group contributed to 62.5% of ICU admissions, with an average hospital stay of 9.30 days (p < 0.01). Neonatal outcomes were less favorable, showing a high incidence of preterm birth, low birth weight (2950.6 g, p = 0.04), and the lowest APGAR score at 1 minute (8.30, p = 0.02), with high NICU admission rates (29.2%).Conclusion: This study outlines a clear risk continuum associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It shows that gestational hypertension and chronic hypertension carries a relatively low risk compared to preeclampsia and eclampsia, both of which significantly increase maternal and neonatal complications.
Keyword :
Preeclampsia, Chronic hypertension, Maternal outcomes, Neonatal outcome, Gestational hypertension.