The Interplay of Hypertension and Anemia on Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Background Anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) are two significant high-risk conditions that can have a profound impact on maternal health during pregnancy. The scarcity of studies investigating the potential links and interactions between these two conditions adds to the gap in our understanding of their combined impact on pregnant women. This study aimed to assess the impact of PIH in conjunction with anemia and without anemia on pregnancy outcomes. Methods A prospective study was conducted among 150 primi pregnant women (third trimester of pregnancy) from a secondary-care hospital (Government General Headquarters Hospital, Cuddalore) in Tamil Nadu, India. The study population was selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, and outcomes of pregnancy. Clinical parameters such as blood pressure were measured using a sphygmomanometer, and hemoglobin and urine tests for protein were obtained from the patient’s medical records. Results The result showed that out of 150 primi pregnant women, 73 (49%) had PIH and 77 (51%) experienced both PIH and anemia. On comparing the outcomes, pregnant women with PIH accompanied by anemia exhibited developing preeclampsia (p<0.001), encountered maternal complications (p=0.034), delivered preterm babies (p=0.03), and gave birth to low-birth-weight babies (p<0.001), and their newborns admitted to the NICU (p=0.02). Additionally, pregnant women with both PIH and anemia demonstrated significantly higher levels of systolic blood pressure after delivery (p=0.009). Conclusion The study calls for the immediate attention of healthcare providers for vigilant monitoring and addressing anemia in conjunction with PIH to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.