title: Poor health-related quality of life after severe preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia is a major complication of pregnancy associated with increased maternal morbidity and mortality, and adverse birth outcomes. The objective of this study was to describe changes in all domains of health-related quality of life between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum after mild and severe preeclampsia; to assess the extent to which it differs after mild and severe preeclampsia; and to assess which factors contribute to such differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study of 174 postpartum women who experienced preeclampsia, and who gave birth between February 2007 and June 2009. Health-related quality of life was measured at 6 and 12 weeks postpartum by the RAND 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The population for analysis comprised women (74%) who obtained scores on the questionnaire at both time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who experienced severe preeclampsia had a lower postpartum health-related quality of life than those who had mild preeclampsia (all p < 0.05 at 6 wk postpartum). Quality of life improved on almost all SF-36 scales from 6 to 12 weeks postpartum (p < 0.05). Compared with women who had mild preeclampsia, those who experienced severe preeclampsia had a poorer mental quality of life at 12 weeks postpartum (p < 0.05). Neonatal intensive care unit admission and perinatal death were contributing factors to this poorer mental quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstetric caregivers should be aware of poor health-related quality of life, particularly mental health quality of life in women who have experienced severe preeclampsia (especially those confronted with perinatal death or their child's admission to a neonatal intensive care unit), and should consider referral for postpartum psychological care.
authors: Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam.
authors: Meeke
authors: M
authors: Hoedjes
authors: Durk
authors: D
authors: Berks
authors: Ineke
authors: I
authors: Vogel
authors: Arie
authors: A
authors: Franx
authors: Johannes J
authors: JJ
authors: Duvekot
authors: Eric A P
authors: EA
authors: Steegers
authors: Hein
authors: H
authors: Raat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008603:Mental Health; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult