Likelihood of Postpartum Hypertension: Influence of Race

Among women with new-onset hypertension during pregnancy, Black women were more likely than white women to be hypertensive postpartum.

How does new-onset hypertension during pregnancy portend subsequent risk? To study the postpartum course of blood pressure (BP), 1017 women (213 Black, 804 white; mean prepregnancy BMI for all participants, 30.0 kg/m²) with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy who delivered at one medical center were provided with a home BP monitor and instructed how to measure their postpartum BP 3 to 5 times weekly. At the first prenatal visit, mean BP was similar among all women (about 118/72 mm Hg). During hospitalization for birth, mean maximum BP was 150/98 mm Hg (Black women) and 145/94 mm Hg (white women).

During the 24 hours following birth and before hospital discharge, mean maximum BP was 140/88 regardless of race. Among Black and white women 26% …

Reviewing Author

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Likelihood of Postpartum Hypertension: Influence of Race

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Reviewing Author