Maternal asthma and risk of preeclampsia: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the associations between asthma characteristics and the risk of preeclampsia.


METHODS
In this case-control study, asthma history among 286 preeclampsia cases and 470 normotensive controls in Seattle was assessed by postpartum interview and medical record abstraction. OR and 95% CI were estimated using logistic regression. The sample size was adequate to detect unadjusted asthma history with ORs of > or =1.6 at a power of 80%.


RESULTS
After adjustment, women with a history of prepregnancy asthma diagnosis were not at increased preeclampsia risk (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.58-1.52). Women experiencing asthma symptoms during pregnancy were more likely than pregnant nonasthmatics to have preeclampsia (OR 2.20, 95% CI 0.79-6.10). Those with long-term pre-pregnancy asthma and symptoms during pregnancy were at particularly increased risk (OR 9.09, 95% CI 1.02-81.6). Point estimates were generally higher after restriction to women withfull-term deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis suggests that asthmatics, particularly those who are symptomatic during pregnancy, may be at higher risk of developing preeclampsia.
Rudra
Carole B
CB
Center for Perinatal Studies, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98122, USA. clb3@u.washington.edu
Williams
Michelle A
MA
Frederick
Ihunnaya O
IO
Luthy
David A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index