Pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Author(s):  
Dimuthu Vinayagam

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, are a significant and commonly encountered group of medical disorders of pregnancy. A primary care clinician is ideally placed to screen for, diagnose and, if confident, initiate management in antenatal and postnatal women. Early involvement of maternity services is advised if a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is suspected or diagnosed. Checking of maternal blood pressure and urinalysis should be encouraged during all routine appointments with pregnant women. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, their diagnosis and management in primary care, with a review of commonly used antihypertensive agents in current UK clinical practice.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitriana Murriya Ekawati ◽  
Ova Emilia ◽  
Jane Gunn ◽  
Sharon Licqurish ◽  
Phyllis Lau

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the leading cause of maternal mortality in Indonesia. Focused HDP management pathways for Indonesian primary care practice have been developed from a consensus development process. However, the acceptability and feasibility of the pathways in practice have not been explored. This study reports on the implementation process of the pathways to determine their acceptability and feasibility in Indonesian practice. Methods The pathways were implemented in three public primary care clinics (Puskesmas) in Yogyakarta province for a month, guided by implementation science frameworks of Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM). The participating providers (general practitioners (GPs), midwives, and nurses) were asked to use recommendations in the pathways for a month. The pathway implementation evaluations were then conducted using clinical audits and a triangulation of observations, focus groups (FGs), and interviews with all of the participants. Clinical audit data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative data were analysed using a mix of the inductive-deductive approach of thematic analysis. Results A total of 50 primary care providers, four obstetricians, a maternal division officer in the local health office and 61 patients agreed to participate, and 48 of the recruited participants participated in evaluation FGs or interviews. All of the providers in the Puskesmas attempted to apply recommendations from the pathways to various degrees, mainly adopting preeclampsia risk factor screenings and HDP monitoring. The participants expressed that the recommendations empowered their practice when it came to HDP management. However, their practices were challenged by professional boundaries and hierarchical barriers among health care professionals, limited clinical resources, and regulations from the local health office. Suggestions for future scale-up studies were also mentioned, such as involving champion obstetricians and providing more patient education toolkits. Conclusion The HDP management pathways are acceptable and feasible in Indonesian primary care. A further scale-up study is desired and can be initiated with investigations to minimise the implementation challenges and enhance the pathways’ value in primary care practice.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046638
Author(s):  
Sk Masum Billah ◽  
Abdullah Nurus Salam Khan ◽  
S M Rokonuzzaman ◽  
Nafisa Lira Huq ◽  
Marufa Aziz Khan ◽  
...  

Study objectiveTo evaluate the competency of trained health workers in detecting and managing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy during routine antenatal check-ups (ANCs) at primary care facilities in Bangladesh.Study design and settingsCross-sectional study; conducted in 26 primary care facilities.Outcome measuresAccurate diagnosis of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.MethodIn total 1560 ANC consultations provided by primary health workers, known as Family Welfare Visitors (FWVs), were observed using a structured checklist between October 2017 and February 2018. All consultations were reassessed by study physicians for validation.ResultOf the ‘true’ cases of gestational hypertension (n=32), pre-eclampsia (n=29) and severe pre-eclampsia (n=16), only 3%, 7% and 25%, respectively, were correctly diagnosed by FWVs. Per cent agreement for the diagnosed cases of any hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 9% and kappa statistics was 0.50 (p value 0.0125). For identification of any hypertensive disorders by FWVs, sensitivity and positive predictive values were 14% and 50%, respectively. There was a moderate positive correlation between the blood pressure measurements taken by FWVs and study physicians. Only 27% of those who had ‘some protein’ in urine were correctly identified by FWVs. Women diagnosed with any of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by FWVs were more likely to be counselled on at least one danger sign of pre-eclampsia (severe headache, blurring of vision and upper abdominal pain) than those without any such diagnosis (41% vs 19%, p value 0.008). All four cases of severe pre-eclampsia diagnosed by FWVs were given a loading dose of intramuscular magnesium sulphate and three among them were referred to a higher facility.ConclusionThe FWVs should be appropriately trained on risk assessment of pregnant women with particular emphasis on accurately assessing the diagnostic criteria of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and its management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fitriana Murriya Ekawati ◽  
Sharon Licqurish ◽  
Jane Gunn ◽  
Shaun Brennecke ◽  
Phyllis Lau

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a significant contributor to the high maternal mortality rate in Indonesia. At the moment, limited guidelines are available to assist primary care providers in managing HDP cases. A previous review of 16 international HDP guidelines has identified opportunities for improving HDP management in Indonesian primary care, but it has not determined the suitability of the recommendations in practice. This study aims to achieve consensus among the experts regarding the recommendations suitability and to develop HDP pathways in Indonesian primary care. Methods Maternal health experts, including GPs, midwives, nurses, medical specialists and health policy researchers from Indonesia and overseas were recruited for the study. They participated in a consensus development process that applied a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions in three Delphi survey rounds. At the first and second-round survey, the participants were asked to rate their agreement on whether each of 125 statements about HDP and HDP management is appropriate for use in Indonesian primary care settings. The third-round survey presented the drafts of HDP pathways and sought participants’ agreement and further suggestions. The participants’ agreement scores were calculated with a statement needing a minimum of 70% agreement to be included in the HDP pathways. The participants’ responses and suggestions to the free text questions were analysed thematically. Results A total of 52 participants were included, with 48, 45 and 37 of them completing the first, second and third round of the survey respectively. Consensus was reached for 115 of the 125 statements on HDP definition, screening, management and long-term follow-up. Agreement scores for the statements ranged from 70.8–100.0%, and potential implementation barriers of the pathways were identified. Drafts of HDP management pathways were also agreed upon and received suggestions from the participants. Conclusions Most evidence-based management recommendations achieved consensus and were included in the developed HDP management pathways, which can potentially be implemented in Indonesian settings. Further investigations are needed to explore the acceptability and feasibility of the developed HDP pathways in primary care practice.


2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brena Melo ◽  
Melania Amorim ◽  
Leila Katz ◽  
Isabela Coutinho ◽  
José Natal Figueiroa

Objective: The present study aimed at assessing the association between environmental temperature and the relative humidity of the air with frequency of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Methods: A prospective and retrospective, descriptive, ecological study was held at a teaching maternity in Recife, Brazil. Data from all 26.125 pregnant women admitted between 2000 and 2006 were analysed and 5.051 had the diagnosis of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The incidence percentages were calculated monthly per deliveries. Data on mean monthly temperature and relative humidity of the air were collected and monthly comparisons were conducted. February was chosen as the reference month due to its lowest incidence of the disease. The relative chance of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for each other month was estimated by odds ratio and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to calculate the relation between the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the mean monthly temperature and relative air humidity. Results: February presented the lowest mean monthly incidence (9.95%) and August the highest (21.54%). Pearson correlation coefficient revealed a higher incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the cooler months (r= -0.26; p=0.046) and no significant effect of relative air humidity (r=0.20; p=0.128). Conclusion: The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy may be affected by variations in temperature, increasing during cooler periods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (08) ◽  
pp. 837-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Barton ◽  
George R. Saade ◽  
Baha M. Sibai

Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical complications of pregnancy and a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and death. The detection of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy is one of the cardinal aspects of optimal antenatal care. With the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the risk for person-to-person spread of the virus, there is a desire to minimize unnecessary visits to health care facilities. Women should be classified as low risk or high risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and adjustments can be accordingly made in the frequency of maternal and fetal surveillance. During this pandemic, all pregnant women should be encouraged to obtain a sphygmomanometer. Patients monitored for hypertension as an outpatient should receive written instructions on the important signs and symptoms of disease progression and provided contact information to report the development of any concern for change in status. As the clinical management of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia is the same, assessment of urinary protein is unnecessary in the management once a diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy is made. Pregnant women with suspected hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and signs and symptoms associated with the severe end of the disease spectrum (e.g., headaches, visual symptoms, epigastric pain, and pulmonary edema) should have an evaluation including complete blood count, serum creatinine level, and liver transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). Further, if there is any evidence of disease progression or if acute severe hypertension develops, prompt hospitalization is suggested. Current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) for management of preeclampsia with severe features suggest delivery after 34 0/7 weeks of gestation. With the outbreak of COVID-19, however, adjustments to this algorithm should be considered including delivery by 30 0/7 weeks of gestation in the setting of preeclampsia with severe features. Key Points


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanual Getnet Mersha ◽  
Tadesse Melaku Abegaz ◽  
Mohammed Assen Seid

Abstract Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy complicate around 6% of pregnancies and accounts for 19% of maternal death in Ethiopia. The current review aimed to assess maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by hypertension in Ethiopia. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was done on the outcome of hypertensive disorder among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Literature search was made in five databases and Statistical analyses were carried out by using Stata 14 software. The pooled prevalence of maternal death, HELLP syndrome, perinatal death, and low birth weight was calculated using a random-effects model. Egger’s test and funnel plot were used to evaluate publication bias. The Cochran Q test and I2 test statistics were used to test the heterogeneity of studies. Result Thirteen studies included in the review, with an overall sample size of 5894 women diagnosed to have hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The pooled prevalence of maternal death was estimated to be 4% (95% CI: 2, 6%). The pooled prevalence of HELLP syndrome was 13% (95% CI: 10, 16%). Other complications such as pulmonary edema, kidney injury, hepatic injury, placental abruption, and aspiration pneumonia were also reported. Perinatal death was observed in one-fourth of women with HDP 25% (95% CI: 18, 32%). The pooled prevalence of low birth weight neonate in a woman with HDP is 37% (95% CI, 27, 48%). Conclusions In Ethiopia, the prevalence of perinatal and maternal mortality among pregnant women with one of the hypertensive disorders were found to be higher than rates reported from high income as well as most of the low and middle income countries. For instance, one in four of pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorder end up in perinatal death in Ethiopia. HELLP syndrome, placental abruption, pulmonary edema, renal damage, prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, and low birth weight were also commonly reported. To improve the health outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, it is recommended to improve utilization of maternal health service; early detection and early referral of pregnant women with hypertensive disorder; advocating policies and strategies that improves the quality of health care that a pregnant woman and her newborn receive.


2016 ◽  
Vol 184 (9) ◽  
pp. 605-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Dilan Yesil ◽  
Olta Gishti ◽  
Janine F. Felix ◽  
Irwin Reiss ◽  
Mohammad Kamran Ikram ◽  
...  

Abstract Gestational hypertensive disorders may lead to vascular changes in the offspring. We examined the associations of maternal blood pressure development and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy with microvasculature adaptations in the offspring in childhood. This study was performed as part of the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2002–2012), among 3,748 pregnant mothers and their children for whom information was available on maternal blood pressure in different periods of pregnancy and gestational hypertensive disorders. Childhood retinal arteriolar and venular calibers were assessed at the age of 6 years. We found that higher maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressures in early pregnancy were associated with childhood retinal arteriolar narrowing (P < 0.05). Higher maternal systolic blood pressure in late pregnancy, but not in middle pregnancy, was associated with childhood narrower retinal venular caliber (standard deviation score per standardized residual increase in systolic blood pressure: −0.05; 95% confidence interval: −0.08, −0.01). Paternal blood pressure was not associated with childhood retinal vessel calibers. Children of mothers with gestational hypertensive disorders tended to have narrower retinal arteriolar caliber (standard deviation score: −0.13, 95% confidence interval: −0.27, 0.01). Our results suggest that higher maternal blood pressure during pregnancy is associated with persistent microvasculature adaptations in their children. Further studies are needed to replicate these observations.


Author(s):  
Jourdie Triebwasser ◽  
Elizabeth S. Langen ◽  
Jennifer Lewey ◽  
Jourdie Triebwasser

Background: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Heart Association recommend that women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy be counseled on lifelong cardiovascular risks and transitioned to primary care for ongoing screening and management. Objective: To assess frequency and content of postpartum counseling regarding cardiovascular risk and follow-up among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Study Design: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, excluding chronic hypertension, performed at a single tertiary care academic hospital. We abstracted documented counseling on hypertensive disorders from the discharge summary and postpartum visit note in the electronic medical record. We defined counseling as documentation of any one of the following: 1) recommending aspirin in a future pregnancy, 2) follow-up with primary care, or 3) lifelong risk of cardiovascular disease. We used logistic regression models to estimate adjusted odds for receiving counseling. Results: Seventy-four women enrolled in the study. A hypertensive diagnosis was documented for 71 women (96.0%) in the discharge summary, but only 11 (14.9%) had any documented counseling in the discharge summary or postpartum visit note. Of the 11 women counseled, 5 (6.7%) were counseled on taking aspirin in a future pregnancy, 5 (6.7%) were counseled on follow-up with primary care, and only 3 (4.1%) were counseled on the lifelong cardiovascular risk associated with hypertension in pregnancy. Two women (2.7%) were counseled on follow-up with primary care and lifelong cardiovascular risk. There were no participants counseled on all three components. Later gestational age at delivery was associated with lower odds of counseling (adjusted OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.27-0.89). Conclusion: Despite consistent evidence on long-term risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, counseling about those risks is suboptimal. Improved communication of risks is the first step towards improving maternal health in the “fourth trimester” and beyond.


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