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Review
. 2022 Jul;44(7):686-691.
doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1742680. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

Prevalence of Preeclampsia in Brazil: An Integrative Review

José Paulo de Siqueira Guida  1   2 , Beatriz Gadioli de Andrade  2 , Luis Gabriel Ferreira Pissinatti  2 , Bruna Fagundes Rodrigues  2 , Caio Augusto Hartman  1   2 , Maria Laura Costa  1
Affiliations
Review

Prevalence of Preeclampsia in Brazil: An Integrative Review

José Paulo de Siqueira Guida et al. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2022 Jul.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To review literature and estimate the occurrence of preeclampsia and its complications in Brazil.

Methods: We performed an integrative review of the literature, and included observational studies published until August 2021 on the SciELO and PubMed databases that evaluated preeclampsia among pregnant women in Brazil. Other variables of interests were maternal death, neonatal death, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome, and eclampsia. Three independent reviewers evaluated all retrieved studies and selected those that met inclusion criteria. A metanalysis of the prevalence of preeclampsia and eclampsia was also performed, to estimate a pooled frequency of those conditions among the studies included.

Results: We retrieved 304 studies after the initial search; of those, 10 were included in the final analysis, with a total of 52,986 women considered. The pooled prevalence of preeclampsia was of 6.7%, with a total of 2,988 cases reported. The frequency of eclampsia ranged from 1.7% to 6.2%, while the occurrence of HELLP syndrome was underreported. Prematurity associated to hypertensive disorders ranged from 0.5% to 1.72%.

Conclusion: The frequency of preeclampsia was similar to that reported in other international studies, and it is increasing in Brazil, probably due to the adoption of new diagnostic criteria. The development of a national surveillance network would be essential to understand the problem of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Brazil.

Objetivo: Revisar a literatura e estimar a ocorrência de pré-eclâmpsia e suas complicações no Brasil. MéTODOS: Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura, com a inclusão de estudos observacionais publicados até agosto de 2021, nas bases de dados PubMed e SciELO, que avaliavam pré-eclâmpsia em mulheres brasileiras. Outras variáveis de interesse foram morte materna, morte neonatal, síndrome de hemólise, enzimas hepáticas elevadas e plaquetopenia (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count, HELLP, em inglês) e eclâmpsia. Três revisores independentes avaliaram os estudos identificados e selecionaram aqueles que preenchiam os critérios de inclusão. Foi realizada uma meta-análise da prevalência de pré-eclâmpsia e eclâmpsia, para estimar sua frequência acumulada com relação aos estudos incluídos.

Resultados: Foram identificados 304 estudos, 10 dos quais foram incluídos na análise final, num total de 52.986 mulheres. A frequência acumulada de pré-eclâmpsia foi de 6,7%, com um total de 2.988 casos. A frequência de eclâmpsia variou de 1,7% a 6,2%, ao passo que a ocorrência de síndrome de HELLP foi pouco relatada. A prematuridade associada a hipertensão foi de 0,5% a 1,7%. CONCLUSãO: A frequência de pré-eclâmpsia foi similar à de estudos internacionais; no entanto, ao longo dos últimos anos, ela vem aumentando no Brasil, possivelmente como reflexo da adoção de novos critérios diagnósticos. A criação de uma rede nacional de vigilância seria fundamental para entender o problema da hipertensão na gestação no país.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interests to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the inclusion of studies in the present integrative review.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plots of the pooled prevalence of preeclampsia (total study period, before 2010, and after 2010).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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