Risk factors for postpartum hypertension in women with twin pregnancies

The Risk Factors That Predict Chronic Hypertension After Delivery in Women With a History of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is one of the most important lethal complications in pregnant mothers. It is also associated with the subsequent development of chronic hypertension. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical risk factors of postpartum chronic hypertension in women diagnosed with HDP.Six hundred patients as HDP, who diagnosed and followed-up at least 6 month after delivery, were included in the study. We divided the included subjects in 2 groups based on the development of postpartum chronic hypertension: presenting with the chronic hypertension, "case group" (n = 41) and without chronic hypertension, "control group" (n = 559).Clinical and demographic factors were evaluated. By multiple regression analysis, early onset hypertension with end-organ dysfunction, smoking, higher prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), were associated with progression to chronic hypertension in the postpartum period. The value of area under the curves (AUC) for the 5 models, that generated to combine the significant factors, increased from 0.645 to 0.831, which indicated improved prediction of progression to the chronic hypertension. Additional multivariate analysis revealed significant specific risk factors.This retrospective single hospital-based study demonstrated that the clinical risk factors, that is early onset hypertension with end-organ dysfunction, smoking, and higher prepregnancy BMI, were significant independent predictors of chronic hypertension in women after delivery. Identification of risk factors allowed us to narrow the subject field for monitoring and managing high blood pressure in the postpartum period.

Clinical features and prenatal risk factors for hypertensive disorders in twin pregnancies

AIM

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, clinical features, and prenatal risk factors for hypertensive disorders, including gestational hypertension (GH) and pre-eclampsia (PE), in twin pregnancies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort study of twin pregnancies managed from the first trimester onward at a single center from 2002 through 2011. We retrospectively evaluated the incidence, severity, time-point onset of GH or PE, as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes. Prenatal risk factors for disease were also analyzed with a multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Of 742 twin pregnancies, 165 (22%) were diagnosed with GH or PE. Five women developed GH or PE at <32 weeks' gestation (early onset), and the remaining 160 developed them at ≥ 32 weeks (late onset). Of all 165 cases, 110 women (66.7%) developed their disease during the intrapartum or postpartum period. The significant risk factors associated with developing a hypertensive disorder in a twin pregnancy were primiparity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-2.61), pregestational high body mass index (aOR 1.35, 95%CI: 1.08-1.70), family history of hypertension (aOR: 1.50; 95%CI: 1.02-2.17) and previous history of GH or PE (aOR 8.85; 95%CI: 2.70-29.0).

CONCLUSIONS

One-fifth of the twin pregnancies developed GH or PE. Furthermore, more than half of the patients were diagnosed with the disease during the intrapartum or postpartum period. Significant risk factors for GH or PE in twin pregnancies were primiparity, pregestational body mass index, family history of hypertension, and history of a hypertensive disorder during a previous pregnancy. The significance of monitoring blood pressure after delivery for a twin pregnancy is stressed.