Clinical maternal risk parameters for the occurrence of maternal and fetal complications during preeclampsia in Congolese women.

Unlabelled: Several studies have demonstrated that predicting complications of preeclampsia up to 48 h before their occurrence enhances clinical management. This predictive ability allows for rational approaches in dealing with groups at high risk of maternal-fetal complications.

Objective: This study aims to identify the clinical parameters strongly associated with maternal-fetal complications during preeclampsia in Congolese pregnant women.

Method: A descriptive and analytical study was conducted in the provincial city of Kinshasa from July 2018 to December 2021. The study population consisted of pregnant women with preeclampsia in three maternity units in Kinshasa. Determinants of complications were assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: In univariate logistic regression models, obesity, a history of hypertension, severe hypertension, and SpO < 90 % were identified as determinants of maternal-fetal complications. Conversely, a history of preeclampsia, treatment with MgSO, or a combination of AntiHTA and MgSO reduced the risk of complications. In the multivariate model, after adjusting for all significant variables in the univariate model, severe hypertension, obesity, and SpO < 90 % were identified as independent determinants of maternal-fetal complications. The risk of complication was multiplied by 5 for severe hypertension, by 4 for obesity, and by 2 for SpO < 90 %. However, treating women with MgSO or a combination of AntiHTA and MgSO reduced the risk of complications by a factor of 4 and 6, respectively.

Conclusion: The presence of symptoms is more useful in predicting complications of preeclampsia than their absence in ruling out adverse events.