Preeclampsia and neonatal outcomes in adolescent and adult patients

Abstract

Preeclampsia is an important health problem with a higher prevalence in the adolescent population. Furthermore, preeclampsia causes adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Newborns can be affected by preeclampsia, resulting in lower birth weight or Apgar score, the need for neonatal intensive care, or prematurity. All these complications are also associated with adolescent pregnancies, and together with preeclampsia, it can determine poorer neonatal outcomes. The aim of the study was to compare the neonatal outcomes of adolescents and adults with preeclampsia. We analyzed data on all the newborns of adolescents with preeclampsia (n=12) who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest between January 1st, 2019, and December 31st, 2019 and compared it with data from 12 aleatory newborns of adults diagnosed with preeclampsia. The prevalence of preeclampsia was higher in the adolescent population compared with the adult one. The weight of newborns was lower among adolescents with preeclampsia. There were no significant differences in Apgar scores between the two groups. Preterm delivery was more frequent in adolescent patients with preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is an additional risk factor for adolescent pregnancy, but it is also a severe materno-fetal complication for this population.