Altitude and socio-biological determinants of pregnancy-associated hypertension

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of gestation-associated hypertension and to determine the effect of altitude and related sociobiological factors. METHODS: A stratified random sample of 3988 pregnant women living at high altitude and 2744 at sea level in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia was interviewed for sociobiological conditions and examined for blood pressure, proteinuria and body mass. RESULTS: An overall prevalence of 2.4% was found. Certain groups of pregnant women are at high risk of developing hypertension. They include women who are over 40 years, high multipara, having short interpregnancy spacing, are overweight, are illiterate and those living at high altitude. Multivariate analysis showed that high altitude is a strong risk factor (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.879; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.123–2.819) and cannot be masked when other variables are controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Special health education and more frequent screening programs at primary health care level should be given to pregnant women living at high altitude.