Researchers examined findings from The Hypertension and Preeclampsia Intervention Trial At Near Term-1 (HYPITAT-I).
Specifically, they studied hypertension and preeclampsia during pregnancy and post-pregnancy.
Hypertension and preeclampsia are two conditions categorized as hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
Hypertension and preeclampsia can have an effect on embryo or fetus development. These conditions can potentially lead to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
HYPITAT-I was a randomized study that started in October 2005 and ended in March 2008.
In a study published by Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, researchers looked closely at the HYPITAT-I trial results. They also looked at information on patients who had not participated in the HYPITAT-I trial.
They looked at cases of women eighteen years or older who gave birth at 36 weeks, and up to 40 or more weeks. They examined statistics during the years 2000-2005 and during the years 2008-2014. Researchers looked at two types of pregnancies: women who experienced hypertension and/or preeclampsia, and women who did not.
In total, almost 1.8 million pregnancies were examined. 143,749 women had hypertension and/or preeclampsia, while just over 1.6 million did not.
A significant increase in hypertension and preeclampsia diagnoses occurred in the years after the HYPITAT-I trial.
The study found that in the years after the HYPITAT-I trial, induction of labor generally increased (13.1%) in women who had hypertension and preeclampsia.
Induction of labor also increased in women who did not have hypertension and preeclampsia. Induction of labor decreased complications for both mothers and newborns.
Such complications included blood pressure, eclampsia, placental abruption, maternal mortality, and perinatal death.
Written by Laura Laroche, Medical Writer, HBASc
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References:
Hukkelhoven, CW, et al. “Impact of Hypertension and Preeclampsia Intervention Trial At Near Term-I (HYPITAT-I) on obstetric management and outcome in the Netherlands”. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Sept 5, 2019. Online.
Best strategy for managing hypertension and preeclampsia at end of pregnancy. 2019, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/w-bsf090419.php, assessed Sept 5, 2019.
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