Hypertension in Pregnancy and Adverse Outcomes Among Low-Risk Nulliparous People Expectantly Managed at or After 39 Weeks: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors

Michal Fishel Bartal
Ashish Premkumar
Madeline Murguia Rice
Uma M Reddy
Alan T N Tita
Robert M Silver
Yasser Y El-Sayed
Ronald J Wapner
Dwight J Rouse
George R Saade
John M Thorp
Maged M Costantine
Edward K Chien
Brian M Casey
Sindhu K Srinivas
Geeta K Swamy
Hyagriv N Simhan
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network

Publication Date

7-1-2022

Journal

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) among low-risk nulliparous women expectantly managed at or after 39 weeks of gestation are associated with adverse outcomes.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomised trial.

SETTING: Multicentre, USA.

POPULATION: Individuals in the expectantly managed group who delivered on or after 39 weeks.

METHODS: Multivariable analysis to estimate adjusted relative risks (aRR) for binomial outcomes, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for multinomial outcomes and 95% CI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Composite adverse maternal outcome including placental abruption, pulmonary oedema, postpartum haemorrhage, postpartum infection, venous thromboembolism or intensive care unit admission. Secondary outcomes included a composite of perinatal death or severe neonatal complications, mode of delivery, small and large for gestational age and neonatal intermediate or intensive unit length of stay.

RESULTS: Of the 3044 women randomised to expectant management in the original trial, 2718 (89.3%) were eligible for this analysis, of whom 373 (13.7%) developed HDP. Compared with participants who remained normotensive, those who developed HDP were more likely to experience the maternal composite (12% versus 6%, aRR 1.84, 95% CI 1.33-2.54) and caesarean delivery (29% versus 23%, aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.01-1.71). Differences between the two groups were not significantly different for the adverse perinatal composite (7% versus 5%, aRR 1.38, 95% CI 0.92-2.07) or for other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Almost 14% of low-risk nulliparous individuals expectantly managed at 39 weeks developed HDP, and were more likely to experience adverse maternal outcomes compared with those who did not develop HDP.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Almost 14% of low-risk nulliparous individuals expectantly managed at 39 weeks developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and were more likely to experience adverse maternal outcomes compared with those who did not develop hypertensive disorders.

Keywords

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, induction of labor, expectant management, cesarean delivery, adverse maternal outcome, adverse neonatal outcome

Comments

Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01990612

PMID: 34927787