PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS IN PREGNANCY AT KORLE-BU TEACHING HOSPITAL IN GHANA

Background: The true burden of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy (HDP) has been difficult to determine with significant accuracy globally as a result of considerable inconsistencies regarding their prevalence due to lack of definite terminologies and classification. Objective: To determine the current prevalence and relative contribution of the various categories of HDP to the burden of maternal hypertension at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) using the recent globally acknowledged consensus classification by the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP). Methods: A cross sectional study conducted between January and February 2013 at the KBTH in Accra, Ghana. Results: There were a total of 398 women with HDP among 1856 deliveries during the study period resulting in prevalence of 21.4%. The proportions of the various types of HDP include 184 (50.0%), 140 (38.0%), 23 (6.3%) and 21 (5.7%) representing gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia respectively. Eclampsia occurred in 58 (15.8%) women. The prevalence of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia chronic hypertension, chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia with respect to the total singleton deliveries were 10.4%, 7.9%, 1.3% and 1.2% respectively. Parity-specific prevalence of HDP showed an increasing trend with the lowest and highest relative proportions occurring in women who had parity of one and 5 or more respectively. Age-specific prevalence showed a steep decline after maternal age of 19 years followed by a general rise after 25 years with highest rate occurring after maternal age of 35 years. Conclusion: There is a significant burden of HDP in the Ghanaian population as evidenced by a high prevalence of 21.4% at the largest tertiary hospital in the country. Gestational hypertension represented the largest proportion followed by preeclampsia, chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia on chronic hypertension. Parity-specific prevalence was highest among women with grand multiparity whereas age-specific prevalence was highest after maternal age of 35 years.