Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a multisystem hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with unclear etiology, but increasing evidence suggests a link with infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are common in pregnancy and may contribute to the systemic inflammation implicated in the pathogenesis of PE. Objective: To evaluate the association between urinary tract infections and the development of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at RMCH, Bareilly, involving 150 pregnant women-75 with preeclampsia (cases) and 75 without (controls). Participants were assessed for UTI through medical history and urine culture. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze associations, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the case group was significantly higher (160.5 ±16.2 mmHg and 104.6 ±11.0 mmHg) compared to controls (116.0 ±10.6 mmHg and 72.1 ±9.3 mmHg). Significant bacteriuria was observed in 61.9% of cases and 38.09% of controls. Symptomatic UTIs were reported in 14 cases and 4 controls. The study found that UTI during pregnancy was associated with a 1.31-fold increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: UTIs in early pregnancy may increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. Routine screening and timely treatment of UTIs in pregnant women could serve as a preventive strategy against pre-eclampsia and its associated complications.
Rani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.