Prevalence of Pregestational Hypertension and Associated Factors

Background: Hypertension in pregnancy is associated with increased incidence of adverse fetal and maternal outcome. The number of women with hypertension predating pregnancy is underestimated. As young women will not check their blood pressure prior to pregnancy, 1 st trimester booking visit is the ideal time to pick up pre gestational hypertension. Pregestational hypertension is considered as chronic hypertension predating pregnancy. Aim: Aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of pre gestational hypertension among the antenatal women attending a tertiary care center and to assess the associated factors. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted in SAT hospital, Govt. Medical College Trivandrum for one year. 400 women attending the OP in their first trimester for registration were selected after informed consent. BP was checked at the first visit. If Blood pressure was high it was rechecked after six hours. Hypertension was diagnosed if systolic BP > 140mmHg and diastolic BP more than 90 mmHg on two occasions. Socio demographic factors, age, body mass index, family history of hypertension, and history abortion and history of intra uterine death in previous pregnancy noted by a structured questionnaire Statistical tests used were mean, standard deviation, chi square, odds ratio and multivariate analysis on significant variables derived in univariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of chronic hypertension was 6.8% and main associations were age more than 25 years, body mass index, and Family history of hypertension, history of abortion and history of intrauterine death.