What the study found
Women aged 35 years or older with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (PIHS) who had adverse pregnancy outcomes showed worse echocardiographic measurements than those with favorable outcomes. The study found that several heart-function indicators and clinical risk factors were associated with poorer outcomes.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that multi-parameter echocardiographic assessment may offer a reliable, non-invasive way to identify high-risk PIHS patients. They suggest this could support closer monitoring and timely intervention to improve maternal and fetal prognosis.
What the researchers tested
The researchers retrospectively studied 240 women aged 35 years or older diagnosed with PIHS between February 2019 and June 2022. They compared echocardiographic indicators, including ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output, E/A ratio, early diastolic mitral annular velocity, E/E′ ratio, left atrial volume index, pulmonary venous flow velocities, and the Tei index, between women with favorable and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
What worked and what didn't
Women with adverse outcomes had significantly lower ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output, E/A ratio, early diastolic mitral annular velocity, and reduced S- and D-wave velocities. They also had higher E/E′ ratio, left atrial volume index, Ar-wave velocity, and Tei index, and the differences were reported as statistically significant. A history of hypertension, nephritis, and a family history of hypertension were also identified as significant clinical risk factors.
What to keep in mind
This was a retrospective study, so the abstract does not describe randomized testing or direct proof of cause and effect. The summary also does not provide details on how adverse pregnancy outcomes were defined beyond grouping patients into favorable and adverse outcome groups.
Key points
- 240 women aged 35 years or older with PIHS were included in a retrospective study.
- Adverse outcomes were linked to lower ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output, E/A ratio, and early diastolic mitral annular velocity.
- Adverse outcomes were linked to higher E/E′ ratio, left atrial volume index, Ar-wave velocity, and Tei index.
- History of hypertension, nephritis, and family history of hypertension were significant clinical risk factors.
- A combined echocardiographic model had an AUC of 0.925 for predicting outcomes.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Echocardiographic measures predicted poor outcomes in advanced-age PIHS
- Authors:
- Jing Zhong, Kang Zhang
- Institutions:
- Hubei University of Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiang Yang No.1 People's Hospital, Xiang Yang No.1 People's Hospital
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-25
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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