Expectant management in non-severe pre-eclampsia, obstetric and perinatal outcomes in a high complexity hospital in Neiva (Colombia)

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the incidence of preeclampsia and identify maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with initial expectant management. Materials and methods: Historical cohort of pregnant women with non-severe preeclampsia seen in a public high-complexity referral institution between June 2015 and May 2016. Convenience sampling was used. Sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical characteristics were measured as well as maternal and perinatal outcomes; the incidence of non-severe preeclampsia is determined and a descriptive analysis is performed. Results: The incidence rate ratio of non-severe preeclampsia was 3%. 86 pregnant women with a mean age of 28 years (SD ± 8.1) were included in the cohort. The mean gestational age at the time of diagnosis was 29 weeks (SD ± 3.1). 47.7% of the pregnant women with an initial diagnosis of non-severe preeclampsia converted to severe preeclampsia and 27 neonates experienced at least one complication, the most frequent being admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (27.9%). Conclusion: the major maternal complication in patients with non-severe preeclampsia was transition to severe preeclampsia identified in around half of the patients, and perinatal complications in around one third of the pregnant mothers. Therefore, a strict control of the patients with non-severe preeclampsia and expectant management is required.