Seasonal influence on the admittance of pre-eclampsia patients in Tygerberg hospital

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dc.contributor.authorImmink A.
dc.contributor.authorScherjon S.
dc.contributor.authorWolterbeek R.
dc.contributor.authorSteyn D.W.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:15:12Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:15:12Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.description.abstractBackground. Previous studies suggest that the occurrence of pre-eclampsia is seasonally distributed. This retrospective study aims to determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the number of admissions and the prevalence of women with pre-eclampsia in Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa. Methods. The number of women admitted with a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or haemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets (HELLP) syndrome (together called pre-eclampsia) was obtained from hospital records from 2002 to 2003 for each season and month. Associations were analysed with Odds Ratios (OR). Furthermore, these data was compared with the Cape Town temperatures recorded on each day over the period, as well as the total rainfall for each month. Bivariate logistic regression of the probability of pre-eclampsia on temperature and rainfall was performed. Results. Pre-eclampsia occurred in 11.5% of all admissions (1,329/11,585). The prevalence was highest in winter (13.6% pre-eclampsia patients from all admissions). Women admitted in winter had a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia compared to those admitted in summer (OR =1.69, 95% CI: 1.07-1.53). The risk of developing pre-eclampsia in June was higher than in February (summer in South Africa, reference month) (OR =2.81, 95% CI: 2.06-3.83). There was a significant correlation between the number of admissions with pre-eclampsia and the minimum daily temperature (r=-0.620, p=0.032). Conclusions. Pre-eclampsia occurs more frequently in winter at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa. The findings have implications for future research related to the aetiology of pre-eclampsia as well as for clinical care. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
dc.identifier.citation87
dc.identifier.citation1
dc.identifier.issn00016349
dc.identifier.other10.1080/00016340701743066
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/13241
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectautumn
dc.subjectbivariate analysis
dc.subjectconfidence interval
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectdisease association
dc.subjecteclampsia
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjectHELLP syndrome
dc.subjecthospital admission
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjectmajor clinical study
dc.subjectmedical record
dc.subjectpreeclampsia
dc.subjectprevalence
dc.subjectpriority journal
dc.subjectprobability
dc.subjectretrospective study
dc.subjectrisk factor
dc.subjectseasonal variation
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectspring
dc.subjectstatistical significance
dc.subjectsummer
dc.subjecttemperature
dc.subjectwinter
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectOdds Ratio
dc.subjectPre-Eclampsia
dc.subjectPregnancy
dc.subjectPrevalence
dc.subjectRetrospective Studies
dc.subjectSeasons
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.titleSeasonal influence on the admittance of pre-eclampsia patients in Tygerberg hospital
dc.typeArticle
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