Estimated Fetal Weight and Placental Thickness in Hypertensive and Non-hypertensive Women Diagnosed on Ultrasound: A Case Control Study

Abstract

The placenta is responsible for development and growth of fetus. It is evident that healthy fetus requires development of the placenta during pregnancy. Hypertension can have unfavorable impact on placental development affecting fetal weight or placental thickness. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare estimated fetal weight and placental thickness among hypertensive and non-hypertensive women. Material and Methodology: It is a case-control study carried out at Private Sector Hospital in Gujrat, Pakistan over a three-month period, from January 2022 to March 2022. The sample size of patients was calculated as 40 in both groups as cases and controls using purposive sampling technique. All hypertensive women in second and third trimesters were included after informed consent. The scan was performed on ultrasound machine (Aplio 300) using a trans-abdominal approach to examine in a supine position. The SPSS software version 20 was used to analyze the data. Results: The age of pregnant women ranged between 19 to 44 years with mean age of 28.6 years. The gravidity ranged from 1 to 7 and gestational age between 19 to 38 weeks. The fetal weight in hypertensive pregnancy (1.9 ± 0.6) and normal pregnancy (2.7 ± 0.45) was found statistically significant. A hypertensive woman carries a fetus with low weight as compared to non-hypertensive. The placental thickness in hypertensive pregnant women was 4.1 ± 0.7 and in normal pregnant women was 3.9 ± 0.8 and had no significant difference. Conclusion: In conclusion there was significant difference between fetal weights among hypertensive and non-hypertensive pregnancies. A hypertensive woman carries a fetus with low weight as compared to non-hypertensive. There was no association found between placental thicknesses.