Peculiar risk factors and complications of pregnancy induced hypertension in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of risk factors and complications associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension [PIH] in a hospital based study. Desriptive Study. Study was conducted in obstetric and gynecology department of Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar from March 2006 to March 2007. 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. The age range of the patients was from 14 to 48 years with mean age of 27.5 years, 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. 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