Hypertension in pregnancy ups risk of poor delivery, infant outcomes

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy seem to aggravate the risk of premature delivery and intrauterine growth retardation, reports a recent study. Consequentially, the delivered infants may be more likely to sustain injuries to the cardiovascular and endocrine system and suffer from neurodevelopmental delays.

“Therefore, comprehensive monitoring of newborns born to mothers with pre-eclampsia should be performed through early intervention, treatment, and long-term follow-up in order to reduce and prevent adverse effects and long-term damage to multiple organs of the newborns,” the researchers said.

The study included 100 infants born to mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia n=53; gestational hypertension n=47). A parallel group of 100 infants born to healthy mothers was also included as a reference.

Infants in the pre-eclampsia group had significantly lower gestational age than controls, while the ratio of low birth weight was significantly higher (p<0.05 for both); the gestational hypertension group had the highest ratio of low birth weight (p<0.05). Head circumference and 1-minute Apgar scores were likewise significantly reduced in both the pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension groups vs controls.

Moreover, the rates of foetal distress, amniotic fluid turbidity, and placental abruption were significantly higher in the pre-eclampsia group. Foetal disruption and placental abruption were likewise more frequent in infants born to mothers with gestational hypertension (p<0.05 for all).