Evaluation of the relationships between beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) blood levels and pregnancy: A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the relationships between beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) blood levels and pregnancy in primary care.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in Bursa Uludağ University Family Health Center in Turkey between October 1^st and 31st October 2023. In the study, the data of pregnant women who applied to the Family Health Center for pregnancy examinations and follow-ups within the five years between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, were taken from the database and evaluated retrospectively. History of current and previous pregnancies, sociodemographic findings, current diseases, allergies, cancer, genetic disease, Rh incompatibility, medication use, pregnancy risk factors, pregnancy complications, and delivery method and outcomes were obtained. Blood total β-hCG measurement results were examined for pregnancy and differential diagnoses. P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Analyses were made in the SPSS 25.0 program.

Results: The mean age of the 239 pregnant women who participated in the study was 28.74±4.02, and the mean total gestational age was 37.28±7.68 weeks. It was determined that 96.2% of the pregnant women had total β-hCG levels in the blood above 5 mIU/ml. Risk factors were present in 26.4% of the pregnant women, and 3.8% of them developed complications during pregnancy. Blood β-hCG levels were higher in those who had an additional disease during pregnancy, those who were on medication, those who had risk factors, and those who developed complications. While total β-hCG measurement levels were lower in those who had normal or cesarean live births, they were higher in those who had abortions (p=0.03).

Conclusion: In our study, blood β-hCG levels were higher in pregnant women who had an additional disease, those who were on medication, those who had risk factors and those who developed complications. Total β-hCG measurement levels were lower in those who had normal or cesarean live births, while they were higher in those who had abortions. Different results in blood β-hCG levels require a holistic approach to evaluate pregnancy. In this critical process, the collaboration of family physicians with obstetrics, gynecology and other clinics is important.

Keywords: complications; diseases; pregnancy; primary care; β-human chorionic gonadotropin.