Prehypertension as a risk factor for the development of perinatal complications: Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between prehypertension and the development of perinatal complications. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study (n = 293) that included pregnant women over 18 years of age carrying a single fetus of a gestational age of less than 20 weeks. Participants with chronic disease, assisted reproduction, fetal anomalies, early gestational loss, multiple pregnancy or who were delivered in a different institution were excluded. Pregnant women with and without prehypertension were compared. Multiple logistic regression was carried out. RESULTS: Prehypertension increased the incidence of hypertensive disorders (aOR 3.54, 95% CI 1.83-6.83) and hospitalization (aOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.17-4.95). No differences were found for other perinatal complications. CONCLUSIONS: Prehypertension increases the incidence of hypertensive disorders and hospitalization during pregnancy.