HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS IN PREGNANCY-PHYSICIANS’AWARENESS FOR EARLY DETECTION

Abstract

Abstract Introduction. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis, term delivery, and/or patient’s transfer to a tertiary institution have a huge impact on favorable outcome. Aim. To estimate ob-gyn physician’s awareness for early detection of pregnancy hypertension i.e. for establishing diagnosis before the onset of symptoms. Methods. Study population was consisted of all pregnant women in ≥37 week of gestation admitted to Special Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology “Mother Teresa” during the period 15.02-28.02.2018. Тhe study was designed as a retrospective one, and the data were collected by a questionnaire. Additionally, histories of all patients admitted to SHOG “Mother Teresa” between 01.01.2017 and 31.12.2017 under diagnosis of PIH/PE (pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia), were analyzed retrospectively whether the diagnosis was established during the hospital admission or before. Results. Twenty-two percent of pregnant women that underwent regular antenatal check-ups did not have blood pressure measurement taken by their ob-gyn physician at all. Only in 16.7% of cases, the diagnosis was established early, i.e. before the onset of symptoms. Conclusion. The awareness of ob-gyn physicians for early (pre-symptomatic) detection of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is low.