Association of Gestational Hypertension with Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Factors, Perinatal Outcomes, Breastfeeding Practices, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence: A Cross-Sectional Study
Eleni Pavlidou,
Sousana K. Papadopoulou,
Olga Alexatou,
Gerasimos Tsourouflis,
Georgios Antasouras,
Aikaterini Louka,
Ioanna P. Chatziprodromidou,
Maria Mentzelou,
Anastasia Sampani,
Maria Chrysafi,
Thomas Apostolou,
Antonios Dakanalis,
Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou,
Constantinos Giaginis
Affiliations
Eleni Pavlidou
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Sousana K. Papadopoulou
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Olga Alexatou
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Gerasimos Tsourouflis
Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Georgios Antasouras
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Aikaterini Louka
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Ioanna P. Chatziprodromidou
Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Maria Mentzelou
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Anastasia Sampani
First Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Maria Chrysafi
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Thomas Apostolou
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Antonios Dakanalis
School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
Vasiliki G. Papadopoulou
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, School of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Constantinos Giaginis
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, 81400 Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
Background and Objectives: Gestational hypertension has been associated with several pregnancy short-term and long-term complications, affecting both the mother and her infant’s health. The present study aims to assess the potential association of gestational hypertension with sociodemographic and anthropometry factors, perinatal outcomes, breastfeeding habits, and Mediterranean diet (MD) compliance. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 5271 mothers that was carried out after delivery. The anthropometry characteristics and perinatal outcomes were retrieved from the mothers’ medical records. Sociodemographic characteristics, MD adherence, and breastfeeding habits were assessed via one-to-one interviews of the assigned women with qualified staff. Results: Maternal older age, being employed, family history of gestational hypertension, overweight/obesity before gestation, and abnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) independently increased the risk of developing gestational hypertension. Moreover, gestational hypertension was independently related with a greater incidence of abnormal childbirth body weight and preterm birth, not exclusively breastfeeding, and lower levels of MD adherence. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of informing future mothers about the risk factors of gestational hypertension, underlining also that a healthy lifestyle, which simultaneously includes a healthy nutritional pattern such as MD, may decrease the risk of developing gestational hypertension and the subsequent pregnancy complications.
