title: Maternal and neonatal outcome of patients classified according to the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy Consensus Statement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To outline the maternal and perinatal features and outcome of patients referred to a tertiary referral obstetric hospital for management of their hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  205 consecutive public patients admitted for assessment of hypertension (either full admission or day-stay) to King George V Hospital's Hypertension in Pregnancy Unit, between February 1993 and January 1994.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study in which patients were classified according to the Australasian Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ASSHP) Consensus Statement classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 205 patients, 25% did not meet the criteria for pre-eclampsia or chronic hypertension, 33% had mild pre-eclampsia, 34% had severe pre-eclampsia and the remainder had chronic hypertension. The mean gestation at delivery for those with mild pre-eclampsia was 38.3 weeks and for severe pre-eclampsia 35.3 weeks. For the mild and severe groups respectively, the rate of elective delivery for raised blood pressure was 56% and 53%; for caesarean section, 17% and 61%; and for perinatal death, 2% and 4%. In the severe group, 49% had fetal problems and 25% required intravenous antihypertensives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multisystem nature of pre-eclampsia makes comparison of management protocols difficult. Ongoing audit is needed of maternal and perinatal outcomes and features of disease in patients with hypertension in pregnancy under a universal classification. The ASSHP classification system successfully identifies patients who require more intensive management and intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King George V Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peek
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Child
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Henderson-Smart
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillin
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome