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The following is a summary of “Blood Pressure in Pregnancy and Hypertension 10–14 Years After Delivery,” published in the February 2025 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Venkatesh et al.
This study aimed to evaluate the association between blood pressure (BP) levels in the early third trimester of pregnancy and the subsequent development of hypertension 10–14 years postpartum, based on the diagnostic criteria established by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. A secondary analysis was conducted using data from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Follow-up Study, a prospective cohort study that excluded individuals with preexisting chronic hypertension. The primary exposure was systolic and diastolic BP measured during the early third trimester, while the primary outcome was BP levels assessed 10–14 years after delivery. Among 4,697 participants included in the analysis, the median age at follow-up was 41.6 years. At 10–14 years postpartum, 8.3% of participants exhibited elevated BP, 14.1% were diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension, and 6.1% had stage 2 hypertension.
Compared to individuals with normal BP during pregnancy, those with elevated BP in the early third trimester had a significantly increased risk of developing stage 1 hypertension (adjusted [aOR] 2.76; 95% CI, 1.91–4.00) and stage 2 hypertension (aOR 3.76; 95% CI, 2.28–6.19) in later years. Furthermore, individuals diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension in the early third trimester were at an even higher risk of progressing to stage 2 hypertension postpartum (aOR 6.16; 95% CI, 4.24–8.94). These findings indicate that elevated BP and early-stage hypertension during pregnancy are strong predictors of long-term hypertensive disease. Given the significant risk of persistent hypertension in individuals with high BP during pregnancy, early identification and long-term monitoring of these individuals may be essential for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease later in life.
