OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to identify the frequency of risk factors for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Southern Brazil. METHODS: The study included 161 patients with hypertensive disorders and 169 control subjects matched by age and ethnicity. The frequency of the risk factors was compared by Fisher's exact test, chi-square and Student's t test. A multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the independent role of clinical, social and demographic factors which were associated with occurrence of the hypertensive disease in pregnancy in the univariate analysis. RESULTS: Patients enrolled in the study were predominantly Caucasian (73%) and the mean age was 29. In the multivariate analysis, the variables associated were: family history of preeclampsia (p = 0.001; OR = 3.88; 95% CI = 1.77-8.46), diabetes (p = 0.021; OR = 3.87; 95% CI = 1.22-12.27) and chronic hypertension (p = 0.002; OR = 7.05; 95% CI = 1.99-24.93). CONCLUSION: The risk factors associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy appear to be similar to those reported in other countries. The knowledge of the risk factors could be helpful in a prenatal care.
Hypertension, pregnancy-induced; risk factors; Brazil
