DEPRESSION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND PREECLAMPSIA: UNRAVELING THE MATERNAL HEALTH CONNECTION

Abstract

The two main symptoms of preeclampsia, a potentially lethal pregnancy illness, are hypertension and organ failure. Depression and physical activity are significant factors in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The PMC Hospital Nawabshah hosted this cross-sectional observational study to examine the complex link between depression, physical activity, and the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy. In total, 275 pregnant women participated in the study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to measure depression levels during each trimester of pregnancy, and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) was used to measure physical activity during pregnancy. Preeclampsia and depression were found to be significantly correlated in the study, meaning that pregnant women who had depression were more likely to Preeclampsia risk was found to be lowered by physical exercise, especially at moderate to intense levels (P-value = 0.01). The study emphasizes how complex preeclampsia development is and how crucial it is to address psychological and lifestyle issues in addition to physiological reasons while providing prenatal care. To reduce the occurrence of preeclampsia, healthcare practitioners should use a comprehensive strategy that includes encouraging physical activity and being diligent in diagnosing and addressing depression in pregnant women.