A raised mid-trimester mean arterial blood pressure: is it predictive of pregnancy induced hypertension in nigerian pregnant women?

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia and its sequelae eclampsia are major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. A retrospective review of 1200 deliveries in women who booked for antenatal care before the 20th week of gestation was done in a tertiary hospital. This was aimed at determining if a raised mid-trimester mean arterial blood pressure was predictive of subsequent development of pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia in Nigerian women, and if it is, to assess its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. There was a statistically significant higher incidence of Pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia in women with an elevated mid-trimester mean arterial blood pressure (P< 0.0001,OR=3.7). The sensitivity of the screening test was 22.9% , specificity 92.5% , positive predictive value 25.0% and negative predictive value 91.7% . The relative risk of developing Pregnancy-induced hypertension in women with elevated mid-trimester mean arterial blood pressure was 3 times that of those with a normal mid-trimester blood pressure. It is concluded that the test shows a high specificity and negative predictive value and allows apportioning of relative risks of developing the disease among booked antenatal patients. The calculation of the mid-trimester mean arterial blood pressure should become a routine part of antenatal care in Nigerian women.