Blood Pressure Pattern in Pregnant Women of Different Body Mass Index in Three Trimesters of Pregnancy

Study of blood pressure changes during pregnancy is essential for understanding the complications of pregnancy like birth defects, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, bleeding disorder etc. Determinants of blood pressure (Systolic blood pressure SBP, Diastolic blood pressure DBP) influenced by the prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and its values gradually changes during all the three trimesters. At present, little is known about the association of BP parameters in different grades of BMI in all the trimesters of pregnancy so our objective of study was to elucidate the aforesaid relationship. We have selected 200 pregnant women from antenatal clinics of obstetrics&gynaecology, J.N. Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh. Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated by using Quetlet's Index. On the basis of BMI, all participants were divided into three groups, underweight, normal, overweight. Reading of blood pressure of participating women was taken by using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer in each period of trimesters. Mean values was calculated and compared between different BMI groups in all the trimester of pregnancy. The statistical software SPSS (version 16) was used for data analysis. We have applied unpaired t- test. SBP,DBP of underweight, overweight pregnant women were not significantly decreased from first to second trimester and it were not significantly increased in third from second trimester, while pregnant women of normal weight, there was significantly fall in SBP, DBP in mid pregnancy fall which further increased up to third trimester. This non significant fall in BP parameters in underweight and overweight pregnant women in mid pregnancy was related to the increase in the risk of development of preeclampsia. The cause of preeclampsia may be explained by the mechanism involved in endothelial dysfunction which is to be discussed later on. We found that level of risk for complications of pregnancy is increased with abnormal BP parameters pattern in pregnant women having different BMI thus women of unhealthy weight side should be offered preconception counseling, nutritional consultation, exercise program and careful screening of obstetrics complications during pregnancy.