Maternal outcomes of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

OBJECTIVE

To determine maternal outcomes of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1 and February 28, 2013. All women delivering at KBTH whose pregnancies were complicated by hypertensive disorders were identified. A structured questionnaire was administered, and the women were followed up on a daily basis until discharge from hospital. Medical records were also reviewed to identify any complications of hypertensive disorders.

RESULTS

A total of 368 women were analyzed. Of 10 maternal deaths, 3 (30.0%) were due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and specifically pre-eclampsia. Overall, 168 (45.7%) women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy delivered by cesarean, 16 (4.3%) had placental abruption, 11 (3.0%) had pulmonary edema, 3 (0.8%) had HELLP syndrome, 2 (0.5%) had acute renal failure, 3 (0.8%) had an intracerebral hemorrhage or cerebrovascular accident, 21 (5.7%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, 7 (1.9%) had disseminated intravascular coagulation, and 58 (15.8%) had eclampsia. Cesarean delivery, admission to intensive care unit, and eclampsia were significantly more common in women with pre-eclampsia than in those with other hypertensive disorders.

CONCLUSION

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are associated with high incidences of adverse maternal outcomes in Ghana, with significantly increased frequencies in women with pre-eclampsia.