Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy
Received 28 June 2006; received in revised form 30 November 2006; accepted 12 March 2007.
Objective
The objective of the study was to examine the psychosocial impact of severe hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Study Design
All women (n = 216) in a prospective study cohort with severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were invited at term age, 3 months, and 1 year postterm to complete the 90-item Symptom Check List (SCL-90) questionnaire for assessment of their psychosocial condition. The association of hypothesized determinants was tested by binary logistic analysis.
Results
Psychosocial impact decreased over time in all women (P < .01). Women with an adverse infant outcome had a worse score at term age (P = .04). The only parameter relating significantly to SCL-90 score in multivariate analysis was gestational age at inclusion. One year postterm, 72% resumed work and 9% were still on sick leave.
Conclusion
Severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have a high psychological impact, especially when gestational age at onset of disease is below 30 weeks or if adverse infant outcome occurs.
aDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
bDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
cDepartment of Social Medicine–Public Health Epidemiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Reprints: Annelies Rep, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
This study was funded by the Dutch National Health Insurance Board (grant OG98-021).
Cite this article as: Rep A, Ganzevoort W, Bonsel GJ, et al. Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;197:158.e1-158.e6.
ABSTRACT