Epidemiology of Eclampsia in a Tertiary Health Care Center

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To analyse the cases of eclampsia admitted in Sri Avittom Thirunal Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India a tertiary health care hospital over a period of two years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study in which 88 cases of eclampsia who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and the distribution of age, gravidity, booking status, type of eclampsia, socioeconomic status, period of gestation, blood pressure at admission were studied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were 88 cases of eclampsia analyzed over a period of two years. 79.6% of cases were in the age group of 20-29 years and 81.8% of them belonging to low socioeconomic status. Out of 88 patients who came for admission, majority (89.8%) were booked outside, mostly being referred from primary health centers and district hospitals. Primigravida were almost 52.3%. Antepartum eclampsia occurred in 79.5% of cases who visited to our hospital. Postpartum eclampsia was seen in 18.2%. 75.7% were between 29 to 37 weeks of gestation. 45.5% had systolic blood pressure between 160 and 180 mm Hg. 51.2% had diastolic blood pressure more than 110mm Hg. We concluded in the study that most of the cases were from rural areas. Hence antenatal care in the primary health centres and district hospitals should be ensured. Early detection of pre-eclampsia and start of anti-hypertensives along with administration of Pritchard regimen can prevent dreaded complications.