Impact of Social and Clinical Attributes Of Patients on Outcome of Eclampsia in a University Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Case fatality of eclampsia remains high in our environment, probably from the impact of factors in the individual patient and sociocultural or institutional factors. Objective: We sought to examine the influence of some identifiable factors on maternal and perinatal outcome. Method: The case records of patients managed for eclampsia in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria from June 2012 to May 2013 were retrospectively studied. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical management and outcome were extracted and analyzed. Results: The incidence of eclampsia was 3.6% with case fatality of 11%. Mean age was 28.67±5.75 years, mean parity was 2.63±1.55 and 67% were unbooked. Anaemia and severe proteinuria increased risk of maternal mortality (33.3% vs 9.5; p=0.018 and 27.3% vs 6.3; p=0.001). Organ-system dysfunctions, ICU admission and stillbirth were more likely in women who died (100% vs 8.9, p=0.001; 36.4% vs 7.8, p=0.018; and 45.5% vs 5.6, p=0.001, respectively). Maternal mortality ratio was 0.4% and perinatal mortality rate was 14.9%. Conclusion: Anaemiaand kidney injury increase the risk of adverse outcome in eclampsia, hence the need for early screening and increased vigilance. A prospective and larger scale study is recommended to identify other associated factors.