Influência da pré-eclâmpsia nos desfechos neonatais: necessidade de internação em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive condition of pregnancy that poses a serious risk to maternal and fetal health, being directly related to adverse neonatal outcomes such as preterm birth, sepsis, the need for ventilatory support, and admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Given the significant impact of this syndrome on neonatal morbidity and mortality and the challenges it imposes on the healthcare system, this study aimed to investigate the influence of PE on neonatal outcomes, focusing on the need for intensive care. This is a longitudinal, prospective, and observational study conducted at the Maternity School Januário Cicco (MEJC/UFRN), a reference center for high-risk pregnancy and neonatology in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The sample consisted of 23 pregnant women diagnosed with PE and their respective newborns (RNs). Clinical and laboratory data were obtained through the analysis of electronic medical records and maternal biochemical and hematological tests. The pregnant women were divided into two groups, according to the need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of the newborns. The results showed a strong association between prematurity and the early form of PE with the need for intensive neonatal care (p = 0.001). Birth weight was significantly lower among the admitted newborns (p = 0.010), who also had a higher incidence of ventilatory support (p = 0.016), respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.005), and neonatal sepsis (p = 0.024). The findings reinforce that PE, especially in its early form and associated with symptoms such as epigastric pain, is strongly linked to severe neonatal outcomes. Thus, early diagnosis and rigorous monitoring of the pregnancy are essential to mitigate complications, reduce the need for NICU admissions, and promote better perinatal outcomes, contributing to safer clinical practices and more effective public policies.