Chronic Hypertension after delivery among Patients with Preeclampsia/Eclampsia at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital: A retrospective cross-sectional design

Abstract Background Globally, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia complicate about 5%-8% of all pregnancies. Pre-eclampsia is characterized by hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90mmHg) and proteinuria (proteins in urine) after 20 weeks of gestation whilst eclampsia is characterized by preeclampsia and seizures or convulsions. Preeclampsia are pregnancy disorders that put women at increased risk for heart diseases as well as stroke and high blood pressure later in life. In view of this, the study sought to determine the pregnancy outcome of patients with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia during pregnancy, chronic hypertension after delivery and postpartum monitoring at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from January to June 2019. Method The study employed a retrospective cross-sectional study design that involved a review of medical records of patients admitted and discharged between January and June 2019 at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The data generated were keyed into Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet 2007 after manual verification and cleaning. It was then exported to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 27. Categorical and continuous variables were expressed as frequencies (percentages) and means ± SD, respectively and were presented in tables and charts. Results A total of 218 medical records were reviewed, of which 7.8% were teenagers and 55.5%% were older than 30years of age. 10(4.59%) had eclampsia. 208 had preeclampsia, with 59.17% presenting with severe preeclampsia and 36.24% with mild preeclampsia. 61% of deliveries were done through caesarean section. The prevalence of chronic hypertension was 3.08% of those who were reviewed at 8weeks postpartum and 1.54% had referrals to the hypertension clinic at 10weeks postpartum. Conclusion The study demonstrates hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly severe preeclampsia, constituted a substantial proportion of obstetric admissions at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Strengthening early detection, appropriate clinical management and structured postpartum surveillance for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy may involve maternal outcomes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.