Differential trend of mild and severe preeclampsia among nulliparous women: a population-based study of South Korea

Abstract

We explored the annual risks of mild and severe preeclampsia (PE) among nulliparous women. Using the National Health Information Database of South Korea, 1,317,944 nulliparous women who gave live births were identified. Mild PE increased from 0.9% in 2010 to 1.4% in 2019 (<i>P</i> for trend=0.006), while severe PE decreased from 0.4% in 2010 to 0.3% in 2019 (<i>P</i>=0.049). The incidence of all types of PE (mild and severe) showed no linear change (<i>P</i>=0.514). Adjusted odds ratio (OR) of severe PE decreased in 2013 (0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60, 0.77) and beyond compared to that in 2010, while the OR of mild PE increased in 2017 (1.14; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.22) and beyond. Mild PE was found to be less likely to progress to the severe form since 2010; however, the overall risk of PE among women did not change.