Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) on both mothers and their fetuses.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 109 patients giving birth with any type of PIH admitted into a tertiary care hospital in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, from January 2022 to December 2024 who met the study criteria.
Results: A total of 109 cases were included, with a mean age of 31.2 ± 5.86 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 28.1 ± 1.95 kg/m2. Most cases were diagnosed late in the second trimester (mean GA: 30.9 ± 3.31 weeks). Mean delivery age was 33.4 ± 1.09 weeks, with 45 cesareans versus 64 vaginal deliveries. Preterm birth occurred in 50 cases (APGAR: 5 ± 0.95 at 1 minute, 7 ± 0.85 at 5 minutes), with 10 NICU admissions and
5 perinatal deaths. Older age, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), chronic hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and twin pregnancies strongly correlated with severe PIH, eclampsia, and placental abruption. Prior PIH raised recurrence risks. PIH severity was linked to preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) need. Multifetal gestation, chronic HTN, and prior PIH were strong predictors. Neonatal death and low Apgar scores were more common in severe PIH/IUGR cases.
Conclusion: Preeclampsia causes considerable maternal and fetal comorbidities, but the current study results proved fetal and neonatal complications were considerable, mainly in terms of prematurity, low birth weight, and a greater need for NICU admission. This, in turn, increases the perinatal deaths.

Key words: Pregnancy-induced hypertension, maternal, neonatal, outcome, Saudi Arabia.