Risk factors for neonatal brain injury in neonates born to mothers with preeclampsia: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact and risk factors of preeclampsia on neonatal brain injury. METHODS: This study employed a retrospective cohort analysis, encompassing 1062 pregnant women and their newborns delivered at Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital between January 2018 and June 2024. The cohort included 531 cases in the preeclampsia group and 531 in the control group without hypertensive disorders. Based on cranial ultrasound and MRI results, neonates in the preeclampsia group were categorized into those with brain injury (Group A, 74 cases) and those without (Group B, 457 cases). Multivariable logistic stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for neonatal brain injury in neonates born to mothers with preeclampsia. RESULTS: ①The prevalence of neonatal brain injury was notably higher in the preeclampsia group compared to the control group (13.9% vs 3.6%, P < 0.05). ②Compared to group B, mothers in group A exhibited an earlier onset of hypertension, a shorter gestational age at pregnancy termination, and a longer interval from hypertension diagnosis to pregnancy termination [ (30.68±4.59) weeks vs (34.63±3.22) weeks, (34.41±2.68）weeks vs（36.37±2.11）weeks, IQR=2.5（95%CI；1-6）weeks vs IQR=1 (95%CI：0-2) weeks, P