Study of the Relationship between Ethnicity and Incidence of Preeclampsia

Background and Preeclampsia is one of the hypertensive diseases of pregnancy with extraordinary significance in maternal and fetal health which is the most important maternal mortality cause in developing couutries (20% to 80%). Ethnicity is also one of the factors in preclampsia. Therefore due to the high prevalence of preeclampsia in Dezyani Center in Gorgan Iran (5.7%) and co-existence of various ethnic residents the present study was designed to determine the effect of ethnicity on the incidence of preeclampsia. Methods and materials: This case-control study involued the population of pregnant women admitted in Dezyani center Iran. Cases and controls were homogeneous as far as employment marital status spouse's job residential location gravidity and maternal age were concerred. Cases with preeclampsia symptoms were purposively selected. In total 500 subjects (250 cases and 250 controls) participated in the study. Questionnaires were filled out via interview and checklists were completed on the basis of laboratory tests of blood and urine. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Chi-square t-test and Mann Whitney U test. In cases of urinary infection probability of preeclampsia increased 1.77 times (CI=95% odds ratio=1.77) which did not relate to case's ethnicity. However if urinary infection is excluded preeclampsia can be related to ethnicity. The results indicated that Turkmen and Sistani ethnic groups were predisposed to preeclampsia.