Publication:

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, South-South Nigeria: a 5-year review

Background Hypertensive disorders complicate 5.2%-8.2% of pregnancies, and contribute significantly to perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, maternal and perinatal outcomes of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria.

Methods This retrospective study was conducted between 1 January, 2016 and 31 December, 2020. Relevant data was retrieved, entered into a pre-designed proforma, and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0.

Results Out of the 4,571 obstetric patients that were managed in our Centre in the period under review, 335 of them had HDP, giving an incidence rate of 7.32%. The most common HDP were pre-eclampsia (189, 56.4%) and eclampsia (82, 24.5%), while the least common was chronic hypertension (3, 0.9%). A little more than one-half (171, 51.0%) of the women delivered preterm, with a mean gestational age at delivery of 35.5 weeks. The most common route of delivery was emergency Caesarean section (205, 61.2%). There were three maternal deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 0.9%. Two of the maternal deaths were due to eclampsia, and one, from pre-eclampsia.

Conclusions Women should be adequately counseled to embrace preconception care, early booking and regular antenatal care visits, with proper monitoring of blood pressure and urine protein. Prompt diagnosis and management are key in preventing the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality that are associated with these disorders.