https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3690-4880
Abstract
Background
Eclampsia contributes to 12% of all maternal deaths worldwide during pregnancy. Again, women with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia had a three to 25-fold increased risk of severe complications. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine treatment outcomes and determinants of eclampsia and severe preeclampsia among pregnant women admitted to selected tertiary hospitals.
Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted on 217 women with eclampsia or severe preeclampsia from April 1 to October 30, 2019. Data were collected from patients’ chart, questionnaire-based interviews at baseline and telephone interviews during follow-up. Then, the collected data were entered into EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS 21.0 for final analysis. Kaplan–Meier (log rank test) and Cox regression were employed to compare baseline survival experience and to adjust for the predictors of clinical outcomes, respectively.
Results
Of 217 women, 80.2% of them developed maternal complications, while nine (4.2%) women died. Determinant factors of maternal complications were linked with eclampsia case (AHR: 1.98; 95%CI: 1.28–3.06; P=0.002), lack of ANC follow-up (AHR: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.22–2.51; P=0.002), presence of maternal leukocytosis (AHR: 1.53; 95%CI: 1.12–2.09; P=0.008), elevated serum creatinine (AHR: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.05–2.17; P=0.02), and maternal age of 20–35 years (AHR: 0.61; 95%CI: 0.41–0.90; P=0.01).
Conclusion
Despite improved survival of women with preeclampsia/eclampsia, different complications that they experienced remained serious problems. We suggest strategies that comprise frequent ANC follow-up and check-up for women with leukocytosis and kidney impairment so as to optimally prevent and treat eclampsia and preeclampsia during pregnancy.
Data Sharing Statement
All relevant data were included in the manuscript.
Ethical Consideration
Ethical clearance and study approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Jimma University, Institute of Health (Reference number: IHRPGD/586/2019). Verbal and written consents were obtained from all study participants before enrolling them to the study. The data from the case records and interviews were handled with strong confidentiality and we ensured neither the case records nor the data abstracted were used for any purpose other than the current research.
All participants were informed about the purpose of the study, and that it was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Author Contributions
All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article was submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.