Effect of severe and nonsevere preeclampsia on perinatal outcome– A comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Fetal complications in preeclampsia include increased rates of preterm delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, placental abruption, and perinatal death. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of severe and nonsevere preeclampsia on perinatal outcome. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of Heritage Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi from august 2018 to august 2019 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into 4 groups of normotensive, mild preeclampsia. Severe preeclampsia and eclampsia respectively. Each group contained 50 patients. All the women included in the study were followed throughout the pregnancy and the perinatal outcome was recorded as following variables. a) mode of delivery; b)intrauterine death; c) IUGR; d)admission to NICU. Results: Out of the 200 patients included in the study, incidence of fetal distress was higher in severe preeclampsia group (20%) and eclampsia (34%) as compared to nonsevere or mild preeclampsia group.(4%).c2 = 22.3; p=.000056. There was 72% & 77.1% incidence of low birth weight babies in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia group respectively as compared to 30% in mild preeclampsia group. This association was statistically significant. c2 = 54.18; p value <0.001). Poor Apgar score were recorded in eclampsia group. NICU admissions were maximum in eclampsia group amounting to 56%. Conclusion: Both non severe and severe forms of preeclampsia are associated with poor neonatal outcome. Severe preeclampsia is more commonly associated with intrauterine fetal demise. Low birth weights, preterm vaginal deliveries and operative deliveries.