Maternal and neonatal outcome of patients classified according to the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy Consensus Statement.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To outline the maternal and perinatal features and outcome of patients referred to a tertiary referral obstetric hospital for management of their hypertension. SETTING AND PATIENTS: 205 consecutive public patients admitted for assessment of hypertension (either full admission or day-stay) to King George V Hospital's Hypertension in Pregnancy Unit, between February 1993 and January 1994. DESIGN: A prospective study in which patients were classified according to the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ASSHP) Consensus Statement classification. RESULTS: Of the 205 patients, 25% did not meet the criteria for pre-eclampsia or chronic hypertension, 33% had mild pre-eclampsia, 34% had severe pre-eclampsia and the remainder had chronic hypertension. The mean gestation at delivery for those with mild pre-eclampsia was 38.3 weeks and for severe pre-eclampsia 35.3 weeks. For the mild and severe groups respectively, the rate of elective delivery for raised blood pressure was 56% and 53%; for caesarean section, 17% and 61%; and for perinatal death, 2% and 4%. In the severe group, 49% had fetal problems and 25% required intravenous antihypertensives. CONCLUSIONS: The multisystem nature of pre-eclampsia makes comparison of management protocols difficult. Ongoing audit is needed of maternal and perinatal outcomes and features of disease in patients with hypertension in pregnancy under a universal classification. The ASSHP classification system successfully identifies patients who require more intensive management and intervention.