Impact of the HYPITAT trial on doctors' behaviour and prevalence of eclampsia in the Netherlands

Abstract

We questioned if participation in the HYPITAT trial (induction of labour versus expectant monitoring in women with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia at term) impacted implementation of its results and subsequently maternal health. We identified women with hypertensive disease from the Perinatal Registry, and distinguished the period before, during and after the trial. We included 43 641 women. Induction of labour increased from 58.3 to 67.1% (P < 0.001) and prevalence of eclampsia decreased from 0.85 to 0.19% (P < 0.001) before and after the trial. Concurrently, participation in the HYPITAT trial among others had immediate consequences for obstetric management and maternal health.