The role of maternal characteristics in the prognosis of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, but our understanding of its cause, progression and likely outcomes remains limited. This thesis examines how maternal characteristics influence the diagnosis and prognosis of preeclampsia. We found that women who are more likely to be diagnosed with preeclampsia, due to pre-existing comorbidities such as hypertension or obesity, often had better outcomes than did women who began pregnancy at low-risk of developing the disease. This is likely a result of unnecessary diagnosis and intervention for women with risk factors, indicating a need to review how we diagnose preeclampsia.