Abstract:
Background: Preeclampsia
has remained an important
public health problem in the
developing world where it is associated
with a five-fold increase in
perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Objective: We set out to compare
neonatal outcomes between
women with preeclampsia and
those with normal pregnancy. We
also sought to evaluate factors
associated with poor outcome in
the neonates.
Materials and Methods: This was
a prospective cohort study that
enrolled 90 women (45 with preeclampsia
and 45 with normal
pregnancy) after 20 weeks gestation.
Maternal socio-demographic
and clinical information was obtained
at enrolment and delivery
using questionnaire. Neonatal
anthropometric and physiologic
data was obtained at delivery and
used for classifying the birth
weight according to the WHO
classification. APGAR score was
used to evaluate the presence of
birth asphyxia. We defined poor
outcome as the presence of at
least one of low birth weight, prematurity,
birth asphyxia and need
for admission. SPSS version 25
was used in all analysis. Significance
testing was set at p=0.05.
Results: The women with preeclampsia
were significantly heavier
at booking (BMI 29.0±6.9 Kg/
m2 vs 25.0±5.2. p=0.005), have
higher mean booking systolic
blood pressure (122.±22.6 mmHg
vs 111.5±12.7mmHg, p=0.003)
and diastolic blood pressure
( 7 9 . 8 ± 1 4 . 3 m m H g v s
68.8±9.0mmHg, p<0.001). Neonates
of women with preeclampsia
were significantly more premature
( m e a n g e s t a t i o n a l
a g e = 3 6 . 8 ± 3 . 2 w e e k s v s
38.7±2.0weeks, p=0.001) and
lighter (mean birth weight
=2,529±817.5g vs 3,079.2±527.4g,
p<0.001).
Overall, 22 (49.4%) of the neonates
of women with preeclampsia
had significantly poor outcome
compared with 12(27.4%) of the
neonates of women with normal
pregnancy (p=0.01). Univariate
logistic analysis showed only being
a male neonate, maternal preeclampsia
and admission in index
pregnancy were significantly associated
with poor outcome. Multivariable
logistic regression showed
only being a male neonate to be 3
times more likely to have a poor
outcome (Wald=5.34. OR=3.2,
p=0.02)
Conclusions: Intrauterine exposure
to preeclampsia is associated with
poor neonatal outcomes especially
in males
