The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among Ghanaian pregnancy-induced hypertensive patients using the world health organisation and the national cholesterol education program III criteria

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors among Ghanaian women with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH). Thirty women with preeclampsia, seventy with gestational hypertension and fifty normotensive pregnant women (controls) in the second half of pregnancy were recruited for this study. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the PIH subjects as compared to the normotensive pregnant women (controls) using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEPIII) and World Health Organisation criteria. Ghanaian women presenting with PIH are very prone to the development of the metabolic syndrome, thus the indices must be screened for during antenatal care.