The association between pre‐eclampsia and neonatal complications in relation to gestational age

Abstract

AbstractAimThere has been limited research about the associations between pre‐eclampsia and neonatal complications in relation to gestational age. This register‐based study aimed to address that gap in our knowledge.MethodsWe used Swedish Medical Birth Register to carry out a population‐based study on primiparas with singleton pregnancies from 1999 to 2017. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were used to study the associations between pre‐eclampsia and neonatal complications in different gestational ages. The data is presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CI.ResultsThe study comprised 805 591 primiparas: 2.9% had mild to moderate pre‐eclampsia and 1.4% had severe pre‐eclampsia. Neonates born to women with pre‐eclampsia had increased risks of several complications compared to those born to mothers without pre‐eclampsia. After adjustment for confounding variables, the risk of being small for gestational age (aOR 5.3, CI: 5.1–5.5) and needing resuscitation (aOR 2.6, CI: 2.4–2.7) were increased. The risk of a low Apgar score and convulsions/hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy was increased at 32–41 weeks of gestation. Moreover, the overall risk of sepsis (aOR 1.9. CI: 1.8–2.1) and perinatal death (aOR 1.2, CI: 1.1–1.5) was also increased.ConclusionCompared with infants of mothers without pre‐eclampsia, those exposed to pre‐eclampsia had higher risks of all the studied neonatal complications.