PECULIAR RISK FACTORS AND COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

Complication of Pregnancy Including Hypertension

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of risk factors and complications associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in a hospital based study. 
Study Design: Desriptive Study   
Place and Duratuion: study was conducted in obstetric and gynecology department of Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar from March 2006 to March 2007. 
Patients and Methods: Sixty eight patients were included in the study. Relevant informations was recorded from patients and treatment chart of the patients on a questionnaire designed in accordance with the objectives of the study. 
Results: The age range of the patients was from 14 to 48 years with mean age of 27.5 yeas, and mode of 26 years. The distribution of symptoms was: Increased blood pressure (100%) edema feet (86.76%), nausea, vomiting (32.34%) sudden weight gain (27.94%) visual changes such as blurred or double vision (22.05%) etc. Frequency of risk factors of PIH was: Primigravida (8.72%) previous pre-eclampsia (7.35%) diabetes mellitus (16.17%) obesity (10.29%), chronic hypertension (7.35%), large placenta (4.4%). While no risk factors recorded in 10.29% patients. Complications of PIH occurred only in 52.94% cases. Frequency of various complications was: haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) 80.55%, convulsions 16.66%, pulmonary edema 8.33%, cortical block and intra uterine growth retardation in 2.77% each. 
Conclusion: Increased blood pressure, edema feet, sudden weight gain, visual changes were main symptoms of PIH in our patients. Primigravida, previous pre-eclampsia, diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, obesity and large placenta were found to be as major risk factors of PIH. HELLP, convulsions and pulmonary edema were recorded major complication of PIH.