Prevalence of Chronic Hypertension in Pregnant Women: A Sharp Increase

Rising maternal age has largely driven the upswing, per an observational study using 4 decades of data.

Chronic hypertension is associated with both adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. To determine how chronic hypertension rates in pregnant women have changed from 1970 to 2010, investigators analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey compiled by the CDC.

The analysis included women with in-hospital deliveries at ages 15 to 40 (>151 million hospitalizations) and with chronic hypertension (according to International Classification of Diseases–8 or 9 codes). Mean prevalence of chronic hypertension was 0.53% in white women and 1.24% in black women. Chronic hypertension was strongly associated with advancing maternal age. Year of delivery was also associated with chronic hypertension; the rate ratio increased until 1990, plateaued f…

Reviewing Author

Fatima Rodriguez, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardNovoNordisk; HealthPals; Novartis; Amgen

EquityHealthPals; Carta

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association–Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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