Association of metabolic syndrome with gestational hypertension

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a group of clinical, metabolic and biochemical abnormalities with negative impact on global health. The aim of the study was to determine the association between metabolic syndrome and pregnancy induced hypertension, and incidence and effects of metabolic syndrome in pregnant patients. Methods: Prospective observational study, performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi. Antenatal women before 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled in the study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by utilizing the pregnancy adaptation of MeS criteria of NCEPATP III laboratory and clinical criteria. Cases were followed throughout pregnancy to observe their progression into hypertensive disorders of pregnancy i.e. gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Results: Out of 100 cases with metabolic syndrome 37% developed PIH, 21 developed pre-eclampsia and 14 developed gestational hypertension, 2 patients developed eclampsia as compared to controls in which only 10% developed PIH among which only 3% developed pre-eclampsia. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates a higher rate of complicated pregnancy with higher incidence of PIH in association with metabolic syndrome compared to control group. Each component of metabolic syndrome increases the probability of PIH. The addition of components of metabolic syndrome exacerbates this probability, especially the combination of increased BMI, increased blood sugar levels and increased triglycerides.