Persistent Hypertension Up to One Year Postpartum among Women with Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy in a Low-Resource Setting: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are associated with lifelong cardiovascular disease risk. Persistent postpartum hypertension in HDPs could suggest progression to chronic hypertension. This phenomenon has not been well examined in low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs), and most previous follow-ups typically last for maximally six weeks postpartum. We assessed the prevalence of persistent hypertension up to one year in women with HDPs in a low resource setting and determined associated risk factors. Methodology: A prospective cohort study of women conducted at eight tertiary health care facilities in seven states of Nigeria. Four hundred and ten women with any HDP were enrolled within 24 hours of delivery and followed up at intervals until one year postpartum. Descriptive statistics were performed to express the participants' characteristics. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to identify associated risk factors. Results: Of the 410 women enrolled, 278 were followed up to one year after delivery (follow-up rate 68%). Among women diagnosed with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, 22.3% (95% CI; 8.3-36.3) and 62.1% (95% CI; 52.5-71.9), respectively, had persistent hypertension at six months and this remained similar at one year 22.3% (95% CI; 5.6-54.4) and 61.2% (95% CI; 40.6-77.8). Maternal age and body mass index were significant risk factors for persistent hypertension at one year [aORs = 1.07/year (95% CI; 1.02-1.13) and 1.06/kg/m2 (95% CI; 1.01-1.10)], respectively. Conclusion: This study showed a substantial prevalence of persistent hypertension beyond puerperium. Health systems in LMICs need to be organized to anticipate and maintain postpartum monitoring until blood pressure is normalized, or women referred or discharged to family physicians as appropriate. In particular, attention should be given to women who are obese, and or of higher maternal age.

Metabolic syndrome following hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in a low-resource setting: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are associated with risk of future metabolic syndrome. Despite the huge burden of HDPs in sub-Saharan Africa, this association has not been adequately studied in this population. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study on pregnant women recruited between August 2017 - April 2018 and followed up to one year after their deliveries and evaluated for presence of metabolic syndrome at delivery, nine weeks, six months and one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome RESULTS: A total of 488 pregnant women were included: 410 and 78 with HDPs and normotensive, respectively. None of the normotensive had metabolic syndrome until one year (1.7% = 1 out of 59 observations), while among those with HDPs were 17.4% (71 of 407), 8.7% (23 of 263), 4.7% (11 of 232) and 6.1% (17 of 278), at delivery, nine weeks, six months and one year postpartum, respectively. High BMI and blood pressure were the drivers of metabolic syndrome in this population. The incidence rate in HDPs versus normotensive at one year were, respectively, 57.5/1000 persons' year (95%CI; 35.8 - 92.6) and 16.9/1000 persons' years (95%CI; 2.4-118.3), with incidence rate ratio of 3.4/1000 person's years. Only parity significantly predicted the presence of metabolic syndrome at one year [(aOR= 3.26/delivery (95%CI; 1.21-8.79)]. CONCLUSION: HDPs were associated with a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome up to one year postpartum. Women with HDPs should be routinely screened for metabolic syndrome within the first year postpartum to reduce cardiometabolic risks.

Maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal birth: a secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the maternal characteristics and causes associated with refractory postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the WHO CHAMPION trial data. SETTING: Twenty-three hospitals in ten countries. POPULATION: Women from the CHAMPION trial who received uterotonics as first-line treatment of PPH. METHODS: We assessed the association between sociodemographic, pregnancy and childbirth factors and refractory PPH, and compared the causes of PPH between women with refractory PPH and women responsive to first-line PPH treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal characteristics; causes of PPH. RESULTS: Women with labour induced or augmented with uterotonics (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35; 95% CI 1.07-1.72), with episiotomy or tears requiring suturing (aOR 1.82; 95% CI 1.34-2.48) and who had babies with birthweights ≥3500 g (aOR 1.33; 95% CI 1.04-1.69) showed significantly higher odds of refractory PPH compared with the reference categories in the multivariate analysis adjusted by centre and trial arm. While atony was the sole PPH cause in 53.2% (116/218) of the women in the responsive PPH group, it accounted for only 31.5% (45/143) of the causes in the refractory PPH group. Conversely, tears were the sole cause in 12.8% (28/218) and 28% (40/143) of the responsive PPH and refractory PPH groups, respectively. Placental problems were the sole cause in 11 and 5.6% in the responsive and refractory PPH groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Women with refractory PPH showed a different pattern of maternal characteristics and PPH causes compared with those with first-line treatment responsive PPH. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Women with refractory postpartum haemorrhage are different from those with first-line treatment responsive PPH.

Condom-catheter tamponade for the treatment of postpartum haemorrhage and factors associated with success: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcomes and factors associated with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) treatment with condom-catheter uterine balloon tamponade (C-UBT). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: A secondary healthcare facility in Nigeria. POPULATION: Women with PPH refractory to first-line treatment. METHODS: Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared in women with successful and unsuccessful treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of these characteristics with successful treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The success rate of C-UBT, factors associated with success, and maternal morbidity rates in both successful and unsuccessful treatment groups. RESULTS: Overall, 203/229 (88.6%) women had successful treatment. Women with successful treatment had lower mean blood loss (1248.8 ± 701.3 ml versus 3434.6 ± 906.6 ml; P < 0.0001), lower occurrence of blood transfusion [139 (68.5%) versus 26 (100%); P < 0.0001], lower intensive care unit admission rates [5 (2.5%) versus 20 (76.9%); P < 0.0001], and lower occurrence of infectious morbidities [3 (1.5%) versus 7 (26.9%); P < 0.0001]. In the regression model with two factors, caesarean section (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.07-0.40) was associated with lower success rates compared with vaginal delivery. In the regression model with three factors, advanced maternal age (aOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11-0.90) and caesarean section (aOR 0.17; 95% CI 0.07-0.41) were associated with lower success rates in comparison with younger maternal age and vaginal delivery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Second-line PPH treatment with C-UBT is effective, and is associated with low maternal morbidity rates. Advanced maternal age and caesarean section are associated with lower success rates. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Condom-catheter tamponade is a useful second-line treatment modality for intractable postpartum haemorrhage.

Antioxidant status and reproductive hormones in women during reproductive, perimenopausal and postmenopausal phase of life.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive aging resulting in menopause with permanent cessation of ovarian follicular activity. The progressive loss of estrogen and its protective effects, combined with deficient endogenous antioxidant results in oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of oxidative stress and its relationship with reproductive hormones at various developmental phases of women. METHODS: A total of 186 (65 in Reproductive, 58 in Perimenopausal, and 63 in Postmenopausal phase) participants between the ages of 20-60 years were recruited for the study. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, estradiol, total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were all determined. RESULTS: FSH, LH and MDA levels were significantly increased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase; however, estradiol, progesterone, TAS and GSH levels were significantly decreased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase. The erythrocyte activities of GSH-Px, SOD and CAT were significantly decreased during perimenopausal and postmenopausal phases compared to reproductive phase. It was observed that MDA showed positive correlation with LH and FSH while a negative correlation with estradiol and progesterone was observed; whereas, antioxidants showed negative correlation with LH and FSH while a positive correlation with estradiol and progesterone. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed that normal perimenopausal and postmenopausal phase are associated with oxidative stress. Therefore it may be of benefit when both phases are being managed in term of hormonal deficit if antioxidant is an adjunct.

[Trichloroethylene concentration in the work environment in relation to the development of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis].

Four cases of primary pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) were studied in relation to occupational trichloroethylene (TRI) exposure. Three of the patients were exposed to TRI in the process of washing or polishing of camera lenses. The maximum concentration of TRI in the work environment of two PCI patients often exceeded 50 ppm, though the geometric mean concentrations were below this value. Monitoring of TRI exposure by measuring urinary TRI metabolites suggested that the third patient had been working in the environment with an 8-h time weighted average TRI concentration exceeding 50 ppm. Scrutiny of 19 PCI cases thus far collected by us revealed that i) three groups of patients (7 in total) were working in the same factories, ii) most of the PCI patients were workers in small-scale factories having poor working conditions, and iii) occupational TRI exposure is probably responsible for the development of primary PCI.