Study of Cardiovascular Parameters and Heart Rate Variability (Frequency Domain Analysis) in 1St Trimester of Normal Pregnant Women and Pregnant Women with Risk Factors for PIH in Western Rajasthan

Background: The role of sympathovagal imbalance (SVI) and CV risk in pregnancy-inducedhypertension (PIH) has been reported, and their association during early trimesters of gestation in PIHhas not been studied. Therefore, in the present study, we have investigated the maternal cardiovascularparameters and frequency domain indices of Heart rate variability (HRV) between normal pregnantwomen and women with risk factors for PIH in their 1st trimester of gestation.Methods: Two hundred twenty subjects each (220 of normotensive pregnant women i.e., control groupand 220 of pregnant women with risk factor for PIH i.e., study group) of 1st trimester of gestation wererecruited from the obstetrics & gynecology department of Umaid hospital, associated with Dr. S. N.Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Physical examination was done and anthropometric measurementlike height & weight were taken. The collected data was statistically analyzed using HRV analysissoftware.Results: Significant difference in body mass index was observed between the two groups. Systolic bloodpressure, Diastolic blood pressure, Pulse pressure, Rate pressure product and Mean arterial pressure ofstudy group was significantly higher than control group. Values of LF and LF/HF ratio components offrequency domain analysis of HRV were significantly increased but HF component is non significantlydecrease in 1st trimester of the pregnant women with risk factor for PIH than normal pregnant women.Conclusion: The present study indicates that the cardiovascular parameters in 1st trimester of pregnantwomen with risk factor for PIH were increased highly significantly than the normal pregnant women.The highly significant (HS) (p<0.000) increase in the LF (nu) & LF/HF ratio and non significant (NS)(p<0.552) decrease in HF (nu) of pregnant women with risk factors for PIH was observed than normalpregnant women this indicate that sympathetic tone was increased in 1st trimester of pregnant womenwith risk factor for PIH. Vagal withdrawal and sympathetic exaggeration may be the possible cause ofPIH in pregnant women with its risk factors.