Dataset Information

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women in Ghana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hypovitaminosis D in pregnancy is associated with adverse health outcomes in mothers, newborns and infants. This study assessed the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in normotensive pregnancies and in preeclampsia, evaluated the association between vitamin D deficiency and preeclampsia risk; and determined the foeto-maternal outcome in preeclamptic women with vitamin D deficiency.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted among pregnant women who visited the Comboni Hospital, in Ghana from January 2017 to May 2018 for antenatal care. A total of 180 pregnant women comprising 88 preeclamptic women (PE) and 92 healthy normotensive pregnant women (NP) were recruited. Socio-demographic, clinical and obstetric data were obtained using validated questionnaires. Blood pressure and anthropometrics were measured, and blood samples were collected for the estimation of 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were also estimated.

Results

A total of 81.7% of the study participants had vitamin D deficiency. Of these, 88.6% of the women with PE had vitamin D deficiency compared to 75.0% in the NP. Vitamin D levels were significantly reduced in the PE women compared to the normotensive pregnant women (p = 0.001). A higher proportion of the preeclamptic women who were vitamin D deficient had preterm delivery (p < 0:0001) and delivered low birth weight infants (p < 0:0001), and infants with IUGR (p < 0:0001) compared to the control group (p < 0:0001). Pregnant women with PE presented with significant dyslipidemia, evidenced by significantly elevated TC (p = 0.008), LDL (p < 0.0001), triglycerides (p = 0.017) and a significantly reduced HDL (p = 0.001) as compared to NP. In the preeclamptic women, serum 25(OH) D showed an inverse, but not significant association with TC (β = - 0.043, p = 0.722, TG (β = - 0.144, p = 0.210) and LDL (β = - 0.076, p = 0.524) and a positive, but not significant association with HDL (β = 0.171, p = 0.156).

Conclusion

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is high in both normotensive pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia but amplified in preeclampsia. Higher proportion of pregnant women with hypovitaminosis D had preterm babies and delivered low birth weight neonates. Additional studies are needed to explore the potential benefits and optimal dosing of vitamin D use in pregnancy, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

SUBMITTER: Fondjo LA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8077698 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Vitamin A plays an important role in the periods of rapid cellular growth and differentiation, especially during pregnancy, which is supplied by the mother to the fetus. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and potential influence factors of prenatal VAD of Chinese pregnant women.China National Nutrition and Health Survey 2010-2013(CHNNS2010-2013) is a nationally representative cross-sectional study. It involved the random selection of 150 districts (urban) or counties (rural). Each site randomly selected 30 pregnant women. Because volume of blood and incomplete data was taken into consideration,the final sample was formed by 1209 participants. Serum retinol concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Characteristics of the pregnant women were collected by a questionnaire. Comparing retinol level across categories of independent variables was tested by the Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify influence factors of Chinese pregnant women.The mean serum retinol level of the pregnant women was 1.63 μmol/L (95 % CI 1.60-1.67) and 64[5.3 % (95 % CI 4.03-6.56)] had VAD. The odds of VAD were significantly higher among the pregnant women in the poor rural areas and without college or university education and low- income. Pregnant women in the second and third trimester had 2.40 (95 % CI 1.05-5.46) and 2.82 (95 % CI 1.34-5.93) times increased odds of VAD compared with those in the first trimester respectively. Pregnant women of drinker had 3.10(1.65-5.81) times increased odds of VAD compared with those no drinker. Pregnant smokers had 5.68 (95 % CI 2.23-14.49) times higher odds of VAD compared with pregnant with non-smoker without passive smoking.VAD is of mild public-health issue in Chinese pregnant women. Such as : in the poor rural areas and without received college or university education and low- income and advanced gestational age and unhealthy lifestyles of pregnant women such as smoking and drinking. These were pertinent influence factors of VAD.

Project description:ObjectivesHypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. Health-seeking behaviour is influenced by adequate knowledge of the condition. However, current data on pregnant women's knowledge of the condition and health-seeking behaviour are relatively scant in Ghana and has not been previously studied in the Central Region where hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was the leading cause of maternal mortality from 2016 to 2018. The study sought to generate data to fill this knowledge gap.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital from 1 April to 30 September 2020. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, including age, level of education and parity, and knowledge of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including its risk factors, clinical presentations and complications, were collected using structured questionnaires. The outcome variable, knowledge of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, was a composite variable categorized as adequate and inadequate knowledge. Descriptive statistics were generated and association between independent and outcome variables were explored using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression methods.ResultsSixty-two participants (15.4%) showed adequate knowledge of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. About 62% (251/404) of respondents had heard about hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Of those who had heard of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, 29.4% (72/245) correctly indicated the condition was underlined by hypertension in pregnancy ⩾ 20 weeks gestation. Women with tertiary education were six times more likely to have adequate hypertensive disorders of pregnancy knowledge than those with basic education. Women with parity 1-4 were 52% less likely to have adequate knowledge compared to nulliparous women.ConclusionThe remarkably low proportion of pregnant women with adequate knowledge of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the study is worrisome because of its potential adverse implication for the health of mothers and their babies. Re-packaging the antenatal health education programme and its delivery is needed for greater impact as far as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy morbidity/mortality is concerned.