Determinants of pre-eclampsia: A case-control study in a district hospital in South India

• Main Authors: Kumar S, Unnikrishnan B, Nagaraj K, Jayaram S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Community Medicine
• Subjects: Chi-square test; odds ratio; pre-eclampsia; risk factors
• Online Access: http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218;year=2010;volume=35;issue=4;spage=502;epage=505;aulast=Kumar
• ISSN: 0970-0218; 1998-3581

<b>Objective:</b> The objective was to study the determinants of pre-eclampsia among pregnant women admitted for delivery in a district hospital. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A case-control study was conducted at District Lady Goschen Hospital, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka, South India. The group of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia comprised those with hypertension after the 20th week of gestation with associated proteinuria, and controls were pregnant women not diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. A total of 100 cases and 100 controls were selected for the year 2006. Study variables included mother&#x2032;s age, parity, body mass index, history of chronic hypertension, history of diabetes, history of renal disease, family history of hypertension, and history of pre-eclampsia in earlier pregnancy. <b>Statistical Analysis:</b> Chi-square test, and crude and adjusted odds ratio with 95&#x0025; confidence intervals were used for statistical analysis. <b>Results:</b> Significant risk factors identified in univariate analysis included prepregnancy body mass index (BMI <u>></u> 25) (OR = 11.27), history of chronic hypertension (OR = 8.65), history of diabetes (OR = 11.0), history of renal disease (OR = 7.98), family history of hypertension (OR = 5.4), history of pre-eclampsia in earlier pregnancy (OR = 9.63), and multiple pregnancy (OR = 4.85). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the prepregnancy BMI of &gt;25 (OR = 7.56), history of chronic hypertension (OR = 6.69), history of diabetes (OR = 8.66), history of renal disease (OR = 5.6), family history of hypertension (OR = 5.48), and multiple pregnancy (OR = 5.73) are the significant risk factors of pre-eclampsia. <b>Conclusion:</b> Pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia should be identified and high-quality antenatal care should be given in order to minimize the complications of pre-eclampsia both for the mother and the fetus.