EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ECLAMPSIA

The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of eclampsia in rela tion to several maternal characteristics and exposures, including demo graphic characteristics, reproductive history, and tobacco use during pregnancy. A case control study was conducted using data for all singl eton births from the Washington State birth certificates for 1984-1990 . In the check box feature employed by these certificates, eclampsia i s listed under maternal conditions. Risk estimates, adjusted for vario us confounders, were calculated comparing eclampsia among exposed vers us unexposed women. The risk of eclampsia was elevated in women withou t prenatal care, those with weight gain of more than thirty pounds dur ing pregnancy, nulliparous women, and those with chronic hypertension. The association with tobacco smoking were inverse and dose related. W omen's race, urban or rural place of residence, history of pre-term bi rths, and anemia were not associated with eclampsia. Our data reaffirm the importance of prenatal care, and provide further evidence of an i nverse relationship with prenatal smoking. As eclampsia and preeclamps ia are important pregnancy complications, further research is needed t o explore their possible causes.