STUDY OF RISK FACTORS FOR HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY IN A TERTIARY CARE MATERNITY HOSPITAL OF DELHI

Dr. Kritika Vats; Dr. Mohini Paul

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2017

STUDY OF RISK FACTORS FOR HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY IN A TERTIARY CARE MATERNITY HOSPITAL OF DELHI

Dr. Kritika Vats, Dr. Mohini Paul

Abstract :

Objective: To study risk factors for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a tertiary care maternity hospital of Delhi. A variety of familial, genetic and socioeconomic factors have been known to predispose to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This study was conducted to study the quantum of risk of these factors which would help in taking timely preventive and curative measures.

Method: A “prospective case – control observational study” was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kasturba Hospital, New Delhi.100 pregnant women presenting with hypertension from January 2014 to December 2014 were taken as cases.100 pregnant women with age and parity matched were taken as controls and compared in terms of risk factors.

Results: Family history of hypertension, history of hypertension in previous pregnancy, illiteracy, low socioeconomic status were the major risk factors identified. In our study, 21% of the cases were having history of hypertension in the family as opposed to 4% in controls. 56.4% of cases had a history of hypertension in previous pregnancy as compared to only 5.1% of controls. Women with history of hypertension in previous pregnancy were 25.39 times at higher risk. Significantly more cases (27%) versus controls (9%) were illiterate. Majority of the cases (63%) belonged to lower and upper lower socioeconomic status. 45% of cases were unbooked as compared to 21% of controls.

Conclusion: The single most significant risk factor is having hypertension in a previous pregnancy.