Publication:

Association of pregnancy induced hypertension with fetal gender

Background Hypertension is a common complication during pregnancy, affecting up to 10% of pregnancies. Fetal gender has been suggested to influence the incidence and severity of pregnancy induced hypertension, though findings are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of pregnancy induced hypertension and its severity with fetal gender.

Methods A total of 1500 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies diagnosed with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia were included in this prospective observational study conducted at Lal Ded Hospital, Srinagar, from November 2018 to March 2020.

Results The fetal male/female sex ratio in the study group was 0.86 male/female, which was significantly lower than the overall hospital sex ratio of 1.07 male/female during this period. In other words pregnant women having PIH delivered more female babies. The study also found that pregnancy-induced hypertension was more common in primigravida women, with preeclampsia being more prevalent than gestational hypertension. Female fetuses had a higher incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), while male fetuses had a higher rate of preterm deliveries. Overall, 4.1% of pregnancies resulted in intrauterine deaths, with a higher proportion of male fetuses.

Conclusions The study highlights that female fetal gender increases the likelihood of mothers having PIH and are associated with higher IUGR rates than male fetuses while male fetal gender was associated with predominant preterm deliveries and intrauterine demise/still birth. Though many studies suggest controversial results, the study demands detailed evaluation at chromosomal level as to study the factors that predisposed the mother to pregnancy induced hypertension.