Bariatric Surgery Brings Benefits: Lower Risk for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia) complicate about 7% of pregnancies among U.S. women. Obesity is associated with excess risk for preeclampsia and might also raise risk for other hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Investigators conducted a retrospective analysis of claims data from 2002 through 2006 that involved 585 women who underwent bariatric surgery (82% gastric bypass) before or after a pregnancy; 269 delivered before surgery, and 316 delivered afterward.

Almost 15% of women who underwent bariatric surgery after pregnancy developed preeclampsia or eclampsia, whereas these disorders occurred in only 3% of women who underwent such surgery before pregnancy. Similarly, gestational hypertension (13% vs. 2%; P<0.001), chronic hypertension (14% vs. 5%; P<0.001), and preeclampsia or eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (12% vs. 1%; P<0.001) occurred significantly less often in postbariatric pregnancies. Overall, bariatric surgery lowered risk for any hypertensive disorder during pregnancy by 75%.