How do maternal factors impact preeclampsia prediction in Brazilian population?

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the impacts of maternal risk factors described by the Fetal Medicine Foundation’s 2012 algorithm (FMF2012) in a Brazilian population.

Methods

All singleton pregnancies submitted to first-trimester preeclampsia (PE) screening using the FMF2012 algorithm were considered for study inclusion. Maternal factors, recorded via a patient questionnaire, were described and compared between PE outcome groups. A Gaussian regression model was derived to measure the effects of maternal factors, and to identify factors that contributed significantly (p < .05) to the alteration of gestational age at delivery, in pregnancies with PE.

Results

Of the 1934 cases considered for study inclusion, the final sample consisted of 1531 cases. The sample included 120 (7.8%) cases of PE, of which 26 (1.7%) were preterm PE (PE < 37 weeks) and 11 (0.72%) were early PE (PE < 34 weeks). The PE rate did not differ according to ethnicity, smoking, family history of PE, or use of assisted reproductive technology. Significant differences (p < .05) between the normal and PE groups in maternal age, maternal weight, previous history of PE, chronic hypertension, and types 1 and 2 diabetes were detected.

Conclusions

The significance and magnitude of associations of maternal factors in our sample differed from those incorporated in the FMF2012 model, implying the need to derive a fitted model for our population.

Keywords:

• First trimester screening
• maternal history
• preeclampsia
• risk factors

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Professor David Wright, who kindly helped us to understand some aspects of competitive risk models.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Authors thank Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro [E-26/ 110.578/2012].