Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part C (2020)

Abstract
Background: Knowledge about the risk factors and identification of risk factors for pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension is essential to identify the women who are at risk. So this study was conducted to determine the risk factors that will reduce the incidence of pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertensionin in women in other than their first viable pregnancy. Methodology: The present study was a Hospital-based Case-control study which was undertaken in Government maternity hospital, Tirupati, and it included 100 women who developed preeclampsia or gestational hypertension denovo in other than first viable pregnancy as study group and 100 age and gravidity matched women without hypertension as the control group. Results: preeclampsia /gestational hypertension was significantly associated with, risk factor like family history of hypertension [odds ratio 4.19,95% CI 2.021 – 8.687,], history of spontaneous preterm births [ odds ratio 1.41,95% CI 0.679 – 2.957], history of spontaneous abortions [odds ratio. 43, 95% CI 0.794 – 2.575] interpregnancy interval of more than 2years [odds ratio 0.156,95% CI 0.083 – 0.297,] is found to be aa protective factor for pre-eclampsia /gestational hypertension. Results are inconsistent in the case of PCOS [P>0.05] and anemia [P>0.05] whereas overweight (BMI=25-29.9) and obesity (BMI≥30 Kg/ m2) were found to be independent risk factors associated with Preeclampsia/gestational hypertension. Conclusion: Modifiable risk factors like overweight, Obesity, anemia, PCOS were found as a significant predictor for the development of Preeclampsia/ gestational hypertension. Other nonmodifiable risk factors like a family history of hypertension, history of preterm births and spontaneous abortions can be used to screen women during antenatal visits to identify those at higher risk of Preeclampsia/gestational hypertension.