D. Wideswensson et al., HOW SWEDISH OBSTETRICIANS MANAGE HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS IN PREGNANCY - A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY, Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 73(8), 1994, pp. 619-624
Objective. To study treatment of hypertension in pregnancy in Sweden a
nd compare our results with a similar study published in 1981. Methods
. A multiple choice questionnaire was sent to 92 obstetricians through
out Sweden and 88% responded. Results. Most Swedish obstetricians woul
d treat a woman in the second trimester with blood pressure 140/95 mmH
g without antihypertensive medication (83%) in the out-patient clinic
(81%). The corresponding figures according to a similar study publishe
d in 1981 were 33% and 71% of obstetricians, respectively. Almost all
obstetricians (95%) would give antihypertensive treatment if the blood
pressure was 170/110 mmHg or more. Betablockers and hydralazine were
the most commonly used drugs. Sixteen per cent of obstetricians would
use calcium antagonists, drugs not available in the previous study. Tr
eatment with diuretics, methyldopa or diazepam in hypertension was rar
ely used. Eight per cent of obstetricians would give low-dose aspirin
to patients with mild hypertension and 20% to patients with severe hyp
ertension. Fourteen per cent of obstetricians would stop all kind of a
ntihypertensive medication and frequently observe patients with essent
ial hypertension. Conclusion. Antihypertensive therapy and management
of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy show a great disparity among Sw
edish obstetricians. National strategies might improve the morbidity a
nd mortality associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.