American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 197, Issue 2 , Pages 158.e1-158.e6, August 2007

Psychosocial impact of early-onset hypertensive disorders and related complications in pregnancy

  • Annelies Rep, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Annelies Rep, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Wessel Ganzevoort, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Gouke J. Bonsel, MD, MPH, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Social Medicine–Public Health Epidemiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Hans Wolf, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Johanna I.P. de Vries, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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.

Key words: follow-up, hypertension, pregnancy, psychosocial

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 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.

PII: S0002-9378(07)00411-5

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.03.045

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 197, Issue 2 , Pages 158.e1-158.e6, August 2007

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