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Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy.

Rep A, Ganzevoort W, Bonsel GJ, Wolf H, de Vries JI

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.rep@vumc.nl

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the psychosocial impact of severe hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: All women (n = 216) in a prospective study cohort with severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were invited at term age, 3 months, and 1 year postterm to complete the 90-item Symptom Check List (SCL-90) questionnaire for assessment of their psychosocial condition. The association of hypothesized determinants was tested by binary logistic analysis. RESULTS: Psychosocial impact decreased over time in all women (P < .01). Women with an adverse infant outcome had a worse score at term age (P = .04). The only parameter relating significantly to SCL-90 score in multivariate analysis was gestational age at inclusion. One year postterm, 72% resumed work and 9% were still on sick leave. CONCLUSION: Severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have a high psychological impact, especially when gestational age at onset of disease is below 30 weeks or if adverse infant outcome occurs.

Published 10 August 2007 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 197(2): 158.e1-6.
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