Emotional stress and the risk to develop hypertensive diseases in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Cardiovascular diseases are strongly influenced by stress and do share several risk factors with hypertensive diseases in pregnancy (HDP). The aim of the study is to investigate the correlation between emotional stress during pregnancy and the risk for HDP.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire comprising obstetrical and psychosocial questions was completed by 725 patients and 880 controls matched for age, parity, nationality, and educational level.


RESULTS
Emotional stress during pregnancy was associated with a 1.6-fold increased risk for HDP.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial interventions to reduce emotional stress during pregnancy may help to decrease the risk to develop HDP.
Leeners
Brigitte
B
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Brigitte.Leeners@usz.ch
Neumaier-Wagner
Peruka
P
Kuse
Sabine
S
Stiller
Ruth
R
Rath
Werner
W
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires