Identification of factors associated with delayed treatment of obstetric hypertensive emergencies.

Background: Obstetric hypertensive emergency is defined as having systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mm Hg, confirmed 15 minutes apart. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that acute-onset, severe hypertension be treated with first line-therapy (intravenous labetalol, intravenous hydralazine or oral nifedipine) within 60 minutes to reduce risk of maternal morbidity and death.

Objective: Our objective was to identify barriers that lead to delayed treatment of obstetric hypertensive emergency.