Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine the psychosocial impact of severe hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. All women (n = 216) in a prospective study cohort with severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were invited at term age, 3 months, and 1 year postterm to complete the 90-item Symptom Check List (SCL-90) questionnaire for assessment of their psychosocial condition. The association of hypothesized determinants was tested by binary logistic analysis. Psychosocial impact decreased over time in all women (P < .01). Women with an adverse infant outcome had a worse score at term age (P = .04). The only parameter relating significantly to SCL-90 score in multivariate analysis was gestational age at inclusion. One year postterm, 72% resumed work and 9% were still on sick leave. Severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have a high psychological impact, especially when gestational age at onset of disease is below 30 weeks or if adverse infant outcome occurs.