Publication:

Prognostic factors of preeclampsia at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon: a hospital-based study

Background Preeclampsia (PE) remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Delayed diagnosis and limited resources compromise outcomes. Identifying predictors of favorable maternal outcomes may improve risk stratification and targeted interventions. This study evaluated predictors of favorable maternal prognosis among women with PE at Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.

Methods We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection over five years (March 2020-2025). Medical records of women with PE were reviewed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with favorable maternal outcomes.

Results Among 333 women with PE, maternal complications occurred in 32.4% of cases: eclampsia (33%) and maternal death (29%), with fetal distress the leading fetal complication (37.7%). Independent predictors of favorable maternal outcomes were ≥4 antenatal visits (adjusted OR=2.47; p=0.004), no previous PE (adjusted OR=1.99; p=0.027), gestational age ≥37 weeks (adjusted OR=1.72; p=0.001), and preserved consciousness at presentation (adjusted OR=4.91; p=0.019). Notably, neurological status emerged as the strongest predictor of prognosis, underscoring the importance of early recognition of severe disease before neurological deterioration occurs.

Conclusions Favorable maternal outcomes in PE are driven not only by clinical severity but also by timely engagement with antenatal care (ANC) services. Identifying ANC use, gestational maturity, previous PE, and neurological status as key prognostic indicators provides targets for strengthening surveillance and referral systems in resource-limited settings. These findings support prioritizing early detection and close monitoring of high-risk women to reduce preventable maternal complications and deaths.