Abstract
Background: High blood pressure and proteinuria are the hallmarks of pre-eclampsia, which develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. Even while pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) has been linked to an increased risk of pre-eclampsia in multiple studies in India, very few studies examine the condition’s causes. This kind of research is lacking among the North Indian population. This cross-sectional study examines the factors contributing to pre-eclampsia in the North Indian population. It is possible to use this study’s findings to undertake appropriate actions.

Aim and Objective: We sought to determine if pre-pregnancy BMI and pre-eclampsia are linked among pregnant women in the North Indian community.

Materials and Methods: Participants (n = 270) were enrolled under the inclusion/exclusion criteria. A sphygmomanometer was manually used to measure the patient’s blood pressure. A positive dipstick test or the presence of 300 mg of protein in a 24-h urine sample was used to diagnose pre-eclampsia. A person’s weight and height were used to calculate their BMI (kg/m2). In India, the new weight-for-height ranges are: Underweight (18.5 kg/m2), normal or lean (18.5–22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0–24.9 kg/m2), and obese (25 kg/m2).

Result: There were three obese pre-eclampsia patients (23–24.9 BMI) and eight pre-eclampsia patients with pre-pregnancy BMIs of 25 or higher, including three overweight patients. There were no patients with pre-eclampsia in the pre-pregnancy BMI groups of underweight (18.5) and normal (18.5–22.9). There were three cases of mild pre-eclampsia (MP) in women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 30 or more. Still, no cases of severe pre-eclampsia (SP) or late onset preeclampsia (LOP) and no cases of early onset preeclampsia (EOP) were documented in the category of overweight women. Seven obese (25 BMI) pre-eclamptic women developed MP, whereas one patient developed MP following delivery. Seven cases of LOP, one case of SP, and one case of EOP were found in this category.

Conclusion: A high pre-pregnancy BMI was found to be an independent risk factor for pre-eclampsia, and there was a link found between pre-eclampsia and a high pre-pregnancy BMI. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for women in their reproductive years, and a healthy BMI can be maintained with proper monitoring, nutritional counseling, and other methods.

Key words: Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Obesity; Pregnancy; Preeclampsia