Comparative evaluation of gestosis score vs uterine artery pulsatility index in predicting gestational hypertension: A study protocol

Abstract

Background: Gestational hypertension and its consequences such as preeclampsia, eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal mortality in India. Multiple risk factors are already known to cause hypertension in pregnancy and with newer advances in the field of medicine, newer risk factors are also being detected which contribute to gestational hypertension. There is need to detect these risk factors so that women who are susceptible to developing hypertension in their pregnancy can be identified at the earliest and monitored and managed accordingly. This study includes two methods, gestosis score which is a newer method, and uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index which is commonly utilized in usually urban centers where ultrasonography facilities are available to look for these risk factors. Objective: The study intends to compare the results of both prediction approaches, the Gestosis score and the Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index in identifying women at risk for gestational hypertension so that these women can be monitored vigilantly for the development of hypertension during their pregnancies and contribute to better management and healthy outcomes of pregnancy. Methods: This study will include 140 pregnant women with gestational ages between 13 to 20 weeks. The gestosis score and mean uterine artery pulsatility index will be calculated. Women with a gestosis score of three or more are deemed at risk for gestational hypertension. Women with mean pulsatility index of 95th percentile or higher are labeled at risk of gestational hypertension. The outcomes of these two methods will be compared to assess which is more effective in predicting developing gestational hypertension. Expected outcome: The study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of both the Gestosis Score and the Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index in predicting gestational hypertension. The results will contribute to employing better risk assessment in clinical practice and the management of high-risk pregnancies.