A new study shows that the frequency of chronic hypertension among pregnant women has doubled between 2008 and 2021. According to a study published in the journal Hypertension, approximately 40% of pregnant women with chronic hypertension did not receive effective antihypertensive therapy. Chronic hypertension in pregnancy is defined as blood pressure readings that persistently exceed 130/80 mm Hg before or after 20 weeks of gestation.
Chronic hypertension increases the risk of developing gestational hypertension, which is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It can potentially result in severe consequences such preeclampsia, placental abruption, and stillbirth.
Untreated, persistent hypertension can lead to postpartum haemorrhage, stroke, and other health issues. The importance of addressing chronic hypertension and improving cardiovascular health prior to pregnancy cannot be overstated, as nearly one-third of people with chronic hypertension may experience pregnancy complications, emphasising the critical need to prioritise hypertension prevention and control for optimal maternal health.
To determine the prevalence of persistent hypertension during pregnancy, researchers examined commercial insurance claims from 2007 to 2021, which included over two million pregnancies from the National Hospital Discharge Survey.
They discovered that the percentage of pregnant people diagnosed with chronic hypertension increased from 1.8% in 2008 to 3.7% in 2021. Researchers discovered that, despite the fact that the prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy has risen, the usage of medicines for treatment has remained consistent at 60 percent. Furthermore, the study found that Black women over 35 with additional comorbidities had a greater prevalence of persistent hypertension during pregnancy.
Experts blame the rise in gestational hypertension on greater rates of obesity, which can raise blood pressure. Overall obesity rates have risen, and the latest study discovered that 64 percent of pregnant women who were taken antihypertensive medication throughout the study period had a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, indicating obesity. Another problem is that women are becoming pregnant at an older age.
As women age, they are more susceptible to develop lifestyle diseases. They also face decreased possibilities of spontaneous conception. People who used infertility treatments were more than twice as likely to be hospitalised for hypertension as those who conceived naturally.
