Review of Medically Indicated Preterm Births Due To Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy at a Tertiary Hospital in Abuja: Maternal Characteristics and Neonatal Outcome

Background: Preterm birth is the delivery of a baby before 37 weeks of gestation. Hypertension in pregnancy has been found to be the most common cause of medically indicated preterm birth leading to significant neonatal mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of medically indicated preterm births due to hypertension in pregnancy, the pattern of maternal characteristics and the immediate neonatal outcome.

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study of all medically indicated preterm births due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at National Hospital Abuja from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2012.

Results: The total number of births over the five year period was 9055 with preterm births contributing 1075(11.9%), 523(48.7%) were spontaneous while 552(51.3%) were medically indicated. Hypertension in pregnancy was the indication for 254(23.6%) of the overall preterm births and 46% of medically indicated preterm births. Preeclampsia was the diagnosis in 77.1% of the cases of hypertensive disorders, 33.5% of deliveries were between 34-36 weeks gestational age and the mean birth weight was 1.82kg.

Conclusion: Hypertensive disorder was a major contributor to medically indicated preterm birth in this study with Preeclampsia as the predominant form. Proper preconception and antenatal care with the institution of preventive measures for preeclampsia will help prolong gestation in at-risk mothers to ensure better survival for neonates.