Preeclampsia and preterm delivery: A population-based case–control study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the contribution of preeclampsia toward preterm birth in primiparous women. Methods: This large population-based case–control study used the Aberdeen Maternity and Neonatal Databank to analyze data on primiparous women with singleton pregnancies, who delivered between 1997 and 2012.Results: A significant positive association was found between preeclampsia and preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio 4.43; 95% confidence interval 3.80–5.16). Magnitude of association varied according to the onset of delivery and year of delivery. Conclusion: Preeclampsia is an important contributor to preterm delivery in this setting and therefore a potentially useful condition to target in order to reduce preterm rates.

Keywords:

• Case–control study
• gestational hypertension
• perinatal morbidity and mortality
• preeclampsia

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Aberdeen University statistics team for the statistical advice provided and the data management team for the data extraction.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding

The data extraction was supported by a consultancy grant from Ferring and March of Dimes.

Additional information

Funding

The data extraction was supported by a consultancy grant from Ferring and March of Dimes.