Effect of the timing of delivery on perinatal outcomes at gestational hypertension.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the perinatal outcomes of women diagnosed with gestational hypertension and no proteinuria according to the gestational weeks.

Methods: We included women diagnosed with gestational hypertension between 2010 and 2014 at our institution and excluded the patients with preeclampsia and chronic hypertension. Women with gestational hypertension were grouped according to the gestational weeks. One group consisted of the pregnancies between 37 and 38*6, whereas the other group included pregnancies between 39 and 41 weeks. Then the outcomes of these pregnancies were compared with healthy women who had delivery between the same weeks (37-38*6 weeks and 39-41 weeks). We analyzed the mode of delivery, birth weight, and neonatal outcomes of these pregnancies.

Results: First and fifth minute Apgar scores were significantly decreased in women with gestational hypertension who had delivery between 39 and 41 weeks compared to healthy subjects (respectively, p = 0.005 and p = 0.033). Perinatal outcomes were adversely affected if the time of delivery was beyond 39 weeks in pregnancies complicated with gestational hypertension.

Conclusion: We concluded that perinatal outcomes were adversely affected if the time of delivery was beyond 39 weeks in pregnancies complicated with gestational hypertension, and outcomes of such pregnancies can be improved if time for delivery is <39 weeks.