![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Objective. To determine whether preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery if labor is induced.
Methods. This retrospective cohort study of 3505 women ≥24 weeks gestation with singleton pregnancies undergoing labor induction compares cesarean delivery rates between preeclamptics and non-preeclamptics. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to control for potential confounders including unfavorable cervix (Bishop score ≤5), method of labor induction, maternal age, parity, gestational age, race/ethnicity, epidural use, medical insurance, and marital status.
Results. Among term nulliparous women undergoing labor induction, preeclamptics had a higher cesarean delivery rate then non-preeclamptics (81/267, 30% vs. 363/1568, 23%; p = 0.011), as did preeclamptic compared with non-preeclamptic women who were term and multiparous (10/64, 16% vs. 55/900, 6%, p = 0.003). Preterm preeclamptics also had more cesarean deliveries compared with non-preeclamptics among nulliparous (48/164, 29% vs. 16/245, 7%; p < 0.001) and multiparous (13/72, 18% vs. 18/225, 8%; p = 0.015) women. In multivariable analysis, preeclampsia still conferred an increased risk of cesarean delivery if labor was induced (adjusted odd ratio = 1.90, 95% CI 1.45–2.48).
Conclusion. Women with preeclampsia undergoing labor induction had higher cesarean delivery rates compared with non-preeclamptics regardless of parity or gestational age. However, the majority of women with preeclampsia still had successful vaginal deliveries.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.