Prevalence of neurological manifestations among pregnant and postpartum women in a tertiary hospital in Egypt: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Neurological diseases account for around 20% of maternal deaths. Some of the neurological diseases exacerbate during pregnancy, some retain the same course, while others remit during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of neurological manifestations among pregnant and postpartum women attending Kasr Al Ainy clinics for antenatal care, or admitted after delivery, at Cairo University hospitals & to classify whether these manifestations started before pregnancy, developed during pregnancy, or puerperium. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year, including 1.010 pregnant and postpartum women who were recruited from the obstetric departments and antenatal care clinics at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University. Demographic data and a full obstetric history were collected, along with past medical and medication history. Participants were screened for a range of neurological symptoms and manifestations. RESULTS: Neurological manifestations were reported by 30.4% of our cohort. Symptom onset preceded pregnancy in 55.7% of cases. During pregnancy, symptoms worsened in 66% of affected patients. The most common neurological complaints were tingling (53.1%) and headache, predominantly migraine (50.5%). Autoimmune diseases were the strongest factors independently associated with neurological manifestations. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms occur in approximately one-third of pregnancies in our cohort. Headaches and sensory complaints are the most frequently reported manifestations. Early risk stratification and multidisciplinary management strategies are recommended to optimize maternal care and improve maternal outcomes.