Unveiling the Risks and Outcomes of Preeclampsia: A Case-Control Study in the UAE

Background Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by high blood pressure and often proteinuria, affecting 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide. Preeclampsia is linked to various factors, including diabetes, obesity, multiple pregnancies, primiparity, age over 30, family history, lifestyle habits, and chronic hypertension. This study aimed to identify the determinants of pre-eclampsia as well as the maternal-fetal outcomes associated with it. Methods An unmatched case-control study included adults over 18 in the United Arab Emirates diagnosed with preeclampsia, who provided consent. Controls included those without preeclampsia. A content-validated questionnaire gathered data on socio-demographics, medical history, reproductive/obstetric history, surgical history, family history, and lifestyle factors. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were performed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 30. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Factors such as unhealthy BMI (cOR 1.803), multigravidity (cOR 1.770), history of abortion (cOR 1.559), age at first pregnancy at 17–20 (aOR = 4.909) and 21–29 years old (aOR = 3.209), history of menstrual disorders (cOR 3.151), PCOS (cOR 2.611), hyperlipidemia (cOR 27.237), thyroid disorders (aOR = 4.346), allergy (aOR = 6.899), and family history of hypertension (aOR = 3.323) were significantly associated with risk of developing preeclampsia. Similarly, maternal-fetal outcomes such as persistent hypertension, postpartum depression, preterm birth, placental abruption, and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were significantly associated with preeclampsia among women who gave birth at least once. Conclusion The results of this study highlight the importance of early detection of preeclampsia in at-risk individuals and addressing modifiable risk factors like stress and nutrition to reduce unfavorable pregnancy outcomes and to mitigate risk. Targeted interventions, such as raising pregnant women's awareness, can help reduce the adverse consequences. These findings also highlight the necessity for improving the overall maternal and fetal health and minimizing the complications associated with preeclampsia.