Preeclampsia: A Leading Cause of Maternal Death

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that can cause high blood pressure and organ damage, leading to maternal death. According to the World Health Organization, preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 50,000 deaths annually.

Lupe, a participant in a study on emotional distress and maternal health in El Paso, Texas, experienced preeclampsia in the final weeks of her pregnancy. Feeling like something was not quite right, Lupe decided to go to the emergency room, where her blood pressure registered 167 over 98, a sharp contrast to her ideal reading of 115 over 70 documented in her medical chart at her first prenatal visit.

Timely medical support prevented Lupe’s symptoms from worsening. However, in the absence of timely intervention, preeclampsia symptoms can rapidly escalate, with brain hemorrhages, cardiac events, organ damage, and seizures. The study found that the prevalence rate of preeclampsia among a sample of 176 Latinas who used publicly funded prenatal care in El Paso was nearly 25% during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is significantly higher than the national prevalence rate of around 8% in 2021.

The Social Roots of Preeclampsia Risk

The study highlights the social roots of preeclampsia risk, particularly in minority communities. Researchers found that socioeconomic insecurity, past exposure to stressful and traumatic life events, severe mental health symptoms, and racism and discrimination are all contributing factors to the high preeclampsia prevalence rate in El Paso.

Brisa, an undocumented immigrant from rural Mexico, spent most of her pregnancy living in view of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Her neighborhood had a constant presence of Border Patrol vehicles and helicopters, which exacerbated her emotional distress. Brisa described a pregnancy plagued by anguish stemming from her immigration status and the economic concerns resulting from her loss of steady work during the pandemic.

Janeth, a U.S.-born citizen who had undocumented family members, developed preeclampsia that was further complicated by gestational diabetes. She attributed these complications to her mental health during the pregnancy. Research shows a potential link between mental health status and gestational diabetes risk.

The study’s findings demonstrate the risks faced by populations that are experiencing multiple, compounded hardships. The researchers emphasize that a focus on individual risk factors for preeclampsia tells only part of the story of this condition. Instead, they argue that a more complex understanding of the social and environmental factors that contribute to preeclampsia risk is necessary to address the disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Conclusion

The study’s findings have significant implications for understanding the social roots of preeclampsia risk in minority communities. By shedding light on the social and environmental factors that contribute to this condition, researchers can develop targeted interventions to address the disparities in maternal health outcomes. Ultimately, this requires a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the complex interplay between social, economic, and environmental factors that affect maternal health.