Vaginal and cesarean section delivery with severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia with complications

Comparison of Retinopathy of Prematurity Incidence in Preterm Infants of Mothers with Preeclampsia and Infants of Healthy Mothers

Introduction

Preeclampsia is one of the four leading causes for pregnancy complications, maternal-fetal and neonatal mortality. This study was aimed at comparing the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in neonates of mothers with preeclampsia and neonates of healthy mothers.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed among 213 mothers, including 49 healthy mothers and 164 mothers with preeclampsia whose neonates were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, during 2016-2021. The participants were chosen using the convenience sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made checklist including items on laboratory evaluation, maternal and neonatal characteristics, and eye examination. The data were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square.

Results

In the two groups, gestational age (P = 0.112), first-minute Apgar score (P = 0.209), and fifth-minute Apgar score (P = 0.949) were not significantly different. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of maternal age (P = 0.0001), type of delivery (P = 0.0001), premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.003), and eye condition (P = 0.033).

Conclusion

The results of our study show that preeclampsia affects the prognosis of infants, and in neonates with preeclamptic mothers, the rate of premature rupture of the membranes, cesarean delivery, and retinopathy of prematurity were higher.