Prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy and its associated factors among women attending antenatal clinics in Bengaluru

BACKGROUND: Hypertension in pregnancy is a major challenge in antenatal practice due to its impact on obstetric and foetal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of hypertension during pregnancy and its associated risk factors among pregnant women availing of antenatal care at public sector hospitals in Bengaluru, Southern India. METHODS: The sample frame included pregnant women who were attending the antenatal clinic at three public sector hospitals. The data were analyzed for 783 pregnant women who had completed their baseline visit over a period of 18 months (September 2017 to March 2019). The blood pressure was categorized based on the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2017 guidelines. RESULTS: Out of the 783 respondents who were examined, 13.9% were found to be hypertensive. The adjusted Odd's ratio was significantly higher for those who were employed outside the house and obese respondents. Other factors such as higher maternal age, lower socioeconomic status, pregnancy-related anxiety, prenatal depression, nulliparity appeared to increase the risk. CONCLUSION: Hypertension during pregnancy continues to be a matter of concern. Risk factor profiling of pregnant women is of utmost importance to identify those who may be likely to develop hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.