FREQUENCY OF PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION IN PRIMIGRAVIDA

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of pregnancy-induced hypertension in primigravida women and its association with selected maternal characteristics.

Study Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Khairpur Mirs, from July 2024 to December 2024.

Methodology: Primigravida women aged 18–40 years, with a singleton pregnancy confirmed on ultrasound and gestational age beyond 20 weeks, were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Women with chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, multiple pregnancy or other pre-existing comorbidity were excluded. After written informed consent, demographic and clinical data were recorded. Blood pressure was measured by the auscultatory method after five minutes of rest; PIH was diagnosed when systolic blood pressure was ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure was ≥90 mmHg on two readings taken four hours apart, or a single diastolic reading ≥110 mmHg, without proteinuria. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23; the chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables and the independent-samples t-test for continuous variables, with p<0.05 considered significant.

Results: Of the 86 primigravida women enrolled, PIH was diagnosed in 15 (17.4%, 95% CI 10.9–26.8%). Mean maternal age (30.0±3.9 vs 27.0±4.5 years, p=0.014) and mean BMI (26.9±3.1 vs 24.5±3.9 kg/m², p=0.015) were significantly higher among women with PIH. PIH was numerically more frequent among women with a positive family history of hypertension, a higher BMI category, and rural residence (all p>0.05).

Conclusion: PIH affected roughly one in six primigravida women in this cohort. Higher maternal age and BMI were significantly associated with PIH; associations with educational status, residence, occupation and family history followed patterns reported elsewhere but did not reach statistical significance in this sample.