Comparative study of serum calcium in pregnancy associated hypertension and normal pregnancy-a prospective study

Background: Gestational hypertension, also referred to as pregnancy-induced hypertension, is a condition where pregnant women develop high blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy without showing proteinuria. During pregnancy, a high need for calcium can reduce calcium secretion in breast milk, leading to decreased bone mineralization for both the mother and the baby. Pregnancy-specific multisystem disorder (PIH) is characterized by edema, high blood pressure, and is a component of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Preeclampsia is a more severe form of PIH that also involves proteinuria and can cause organ damage. Eclampsia is a rare but serious complication of preeclampsia that involves seizures. Regular prenatal care is important to monitor and manage any potential pregnancy-related complications. Methods: We conducted a one-year prospective observational study involving 100 pregnant women who were admitted to the antenatal ward at the Government Medical College in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. To be included in the study group, women had to be over the age of 20 with a singleton pregnancy and more than 20 weeks pregnant. They also had to have been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, which was defined as having a blood pressure of ≥140/90mmHg on two separate occasions six hours apart, proteinuria of more than 300mg in 24-hour urine or 1+ dipstick in 2 midstream urine samples collected four hours apart, with or without edema, and at more than 20 weeks of gestational age. The control group consisted of women between the ages of 20 and 40 with a singleton pregnancy, more than 20 weeks of gestational age, a blood pressure of ≤130/80 mmHg, and who were either primi- or multigravidas. Results: The study compared the characteristics of cases and controls. The mean age of cases was 26.015 years with a standard deviation of 4.51 years, while the mean age of controls was 26.450 years with a standard deviation of 4.82 years. The mean gestational age of cases was 34.230 weeks with a standard deviation of 3.02 weeks, and the mean gestational age of controls was 33.120 weeks with a standard deviation of 3.59 weeks. Among cases, 60% were primiparous and 40% were multiparous, while among controls, 55% were primiparous and 45% were multiparous. The mean systolic blood pressure of cases was 150 mm/Hg with a standard deviation of 7.124 mm/Hg, and the range was between 135 mm/Hg and 165 mm/Hg. The median systolic blood pressure of cases was 151 mm/Hg. The mean systolic blood pressure of controls was 120 mm/Hg with a standard deviation of 10.20 mm/Hg, and the range was between 115 mm/Hg and 130 mm/Hg. The median systolic blood pressure of controls was 120 mm/Hg. The mean diastolic blood pressure of cases was 98.9 mm/Hg with a standard deviation of 6.03 mm/Hg, and the range was between 90 mm/Hg and 110 mm/Hg. The median diastolic blood pressure of cases was 100 mm/Hg. The mean diastolic blood pressure of controls was 75.90 mm/Hg with a standard deviation of 4.45 mm/Hg, and the range was between 60 mm/Hg and 80 mm/Hg. The median diastolic blood pressure of controls was 76 mm/Hg. The mean serum calcium level of cases was 8.53 mg/dL with a standard deviation of 0.450 mg/dL, and it ranged between 8-9.6 mg/dL. The median serum calcium level of cases was 8.550 mg/dL. The mean serum calcium level of controls was 9.30 mg/dL with a standard deviation of 0.5350 mg/dL, and it ranged between 8.4-10.6 mg/dL. The median serum calcium level of controls was 9.050 mg/dL. The study showed that cases had lower mean serum calcium levels compared to controls. Conclusion: The study did not explicitly state a conclusion. However, based on the data presented, regular monitoring of serum calcium levels in pregnant women may be beneficial in diagnosing and managing any issues that arise. This could potentially help to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality and lead to better outcomes in pregnancy.