Comparison of Pregnancy Outcomes of Women with and Without Hypertension at the Latent Phase of Labor Who Were Under Medical Care for Preeclampsia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We explored the association between hypertension (>140/90) at the latent phase of labor (resistant hypertension) and the subsequent development of major maternal complications or adverse infant outcomes in women with preeclampsia under medical care.

STUDY DESIGN: We drew data from 824 women who were under follow-up at the Department of Perinatology of Health Sciences University Zeynep Kamil Women and Children’s Health Training and Research Hospital with a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Women with and without resistant hypertension were compared in terms of major maternal complications and adverse infant outcomes.

RESULTS: Mean age and body mass index were similar between the two groups (p>0.05). The rate of preeclamptic complaints was significantly higher in groups with resistant hypertension (90.1% vs. 67.2%, p<0.05). Proteinuria was more frequent in the resistant hypertension group (78.7% vs. 66.8%, p<0.001). The newborn intensive care unit admission rate was significantly higher in the group with resistant hypertension (65.6% vs. 45.9%, p<0.001). Gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in the group with resistant hypertension compared to the normotensive group (34.6 vs. 32.9 weeks, p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the rate of preterm delivery (78.5% vs. 66.7%, p=0.04).

CONCLUSION: Resistant hypertension is associated with a higher rate of preeclamptic symptoms during labor and newborn intensive care unit admission.