842Prevention of severe preeclampsia at term gestation among women with chronic hypertension
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AbstractBackgroundChronic hypertension is a strong risk factor for severe preeclampsia/eclampsia (SPE), and timely obstetric intervention can prevent SPE and reduce perinatal complications. We quantified gestational age-specific rates of SPE and estimated the benefits of preventive interventions among women with chronic hypertension at term gestation (≥37 weeks).MethodsWomen with chronic hypertension and a term, singleton, hospital delivery in Washington State, 2003-2013, were included in the study (N = 9697) with data obtained from birth certificates and hospital records. Adverse outcomes included SPE and composite severe neonatal morbidity (e.g., seizures, intracranial hemorrhage) and perinatal death (SNMM). Preventive interventions included labour induction and pre-labour cesarean delivery.ResultsThere were 1026 cases of SPE (10.6 per 100 women with chronic hypertension). Gestational age-specific SPE rates ranged between 2.8 and 4.1 per 100 ongoing pregnancies; the frequency of preventive intervention at each gestational week ranged between 58% and 66%. Gestational age-specific SPE and SNMM rates were lower following preventive intervention: such intervention reduced the frequency of SPE/SNMM by 28 per 100 additional interventions at 37 weeks, 22 per 100 at 38 weeks, 17 per 100 at 39 weeks, 13 at 40 weeks and 6 per 100 additional interventions at 41 weeks’ gestation.ConclusionsLabour induction and pre-labour cesarean delivery at term gestation can prevent a substantial proportion of severe preeclampsia/eclampsia and perinatal death/severe neonatal morbidity among women with chronic hypertension.Key messagesSPE occurs in approximately 11% of women with chronic hypertension at term gestation. Obstetric interventions can prevent SPE and improve adverse pregnancy outcomes.
