Correlation of Body Mass Index with Blood Pressure in Pregnant Patients with Severe Preeclampsia

Aims: Determine the correlation of pregestational body mass index and body mass index upon admission to the Intensive Care Unit with blood pressure in pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit of the High Specialty Medical Unit Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital No. 3 of the National Medical Center “La Raza” belonging to the Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City between January 01 and December 30, 2023.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 100 pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia from the Intensive Care Unit. The correlation of pregestational body mass index and Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index with systolic and diastolic blood pressure recorded upon admission was calculated. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used.

Results: Maternal age was 29.84±6.60 years and the mean pregnancy was 33.93±4.03 weeks. Pregestational body mass index was 28.17±5.96 (normal 29%, overweight 43%, obesity 28%). Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index was 32.90±5.95 (normal 5%, overweight 26%, obesity 69%). Systolic blood pressure was 161.92±16 and diastolic blood pressure was 101.11±9.75 mmHg. Correlations: pregestational body mass index vs systolic blood pressure was r=0.049 and diastolic blood pressure was r=0.134. Correlation of Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index vs systolic blood pressure was r=0.038 and vs diastolic blood pressure r=0.071.

Conclusion: No significant correlation of pregestational body mass index and body mass index upon admission to the Intensive Care Unit with systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in the patients participating in the study.