Incidence and risk factors of pre-eclampsia in the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Nepal: a retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the incidence of pre-eclampsia and distribution of risk factors for pre-eclampsia in Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted that included a total of 4820 deliveries from September 17 to December 18, 2017. Data were obtained from the medical records in the hospital’s Statistics Department. Associations between the risk factors and pre-eclampsia were determined using logistic regression analysis and expressed as odds ratios. Results: The incidence rate of pre-eclampsia in the study population was 1.8%. Higher incidence of pre-eclampsia was observed for women older than 35 years (y) (OR = 3.27; CI 1.42-7.52) in comparision to mothers aged 20-24 years, primiparous women (OR = 2.12; CI 1.25-3.60), women with gestational age less than 37 weeks (OR = 3.68; CI 2.23-6.09), multiple pregnancies (OR = 8.49; CI 2.92-24.72), chronic hypertension (OR = 13.64; CI 4.45-41.81), urinary tract infection (OR = 6.89; CI 1.28-36.95) and gestational diabetes (OR = 11.79; CI 3.20-43.41). Iron and calcium supplementation appear to be protective. Conclusion: Age of the mothers, primiparity, early gestational age, multiple pregnancies, chronic hypertension, urinary tract infection and gestational diabetes were the significant risk factors for pre-eclampsia. Iron and calcium supplementation and young aged women were somewhat protective.