Research Highlights:
- Researchers found high blood pressure complicated about 80,000 pregnancies in 2018, nearly twice as many as in 2007.
- Women living in rural areas continue to be approximately 20% more likely to have high blood pressure before pregnancy than women living in urban communities.
- Non-Hispanic Black women had more than double the risk of pre-pregnancy hypertension compared to white and Hispanic women.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Monday, Nov. 9, 2020
DALLAS, Nov. 9, 2020 — Nearly twice as many pregnancies were complicated by high blood pressure in 2018 than in 2007, and women living in rural areas continue to have higher rates of high blood pressure compared to their urban counterparts, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2020. The meeting will be held virtually, Friday, November 13 - Tuesday, November 17, 2020, and is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science for health care.
Pre-pregnancy hypertension is a well-established risk to the health of both mothers and infants, and mortality rates of mothers are increasing in the U.S. with significant rural-urban disparities. The goal of the study, “Trends and Disparities in Pre-pregnancy Essential Hypertension Among Women in Rural and Urban United States, 2007-2018,” was to detail trends in maternal pre-pregnancy high blood pressure so geographically targeted prevention and policy strategies can be developed.
“We were surprised to see the dramatic increase in the percentage over the last 10 years of women entering pregnancy with hypertension. It was also shocking to see women as young as 15 to 24 years old with high blood pressure, and the statistics were worse in rural areas, leading us to be concerned these numbers may, in part, be driven by hospital closures and difficulty accessing care,” said the study’s lead author Natalie A. Cameron, M.D., a resident in the department of medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Researchers collected maternal data from almost 50 million live births in women ages 15 to 44, between 2007 and 2018, from the national CDC Natality Database. They calculated rates of pre-pregnancy hypertension per 1,000 live births overall and by the type of community the women lived in (rural or urban). The annual percentage change was calculated to compare yearly rates between rural and urban settings.
Results from the analysis indicate:
- The rate of pre-pregnancy hypertension per 1,000 births nearly doubled in both rural (13.7 to 23.7) and urban (10.5 to 20) women.
- In both rural and urban areas, hypertension rates were lower among younger women (ages 15-19) than in older women (40-44), yet all age groups experienced similar rate increases between 2007 and 2018.
- The greatest annual percentage change of pre-pregnancy hypertension was nearly 10% for women in rural areas and 9% for women in urban areas.
“These data demonstrate unacceptable increases in the number of women with hypertension that need to be addressed urgently,” says Cameron. “Preventive care must start before pregnancy. This is especially important in rural communities where there is a far greater burden of high blood pressure and much higher risks to the health of mother and baby. We also must address the structural and systemic racism that can be barriers to high quality care.”
Important limitations of this work include the lack of data on continuous blood pressure measurements, as well as other important factors that can be related to high blood pressure such as body mass index.
Co-authors are Rebecca Molsberry, M.P.H.; Jacob B. Pierce, B.A.; Amanda M. Perak, M.D., M.S.; William A. Grobman, M.D., M.B.A.; Norrina B. Allen, Ph.D.; Philip Greenland, M.D.; Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M.; and Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc. Author disclosures are in the abstract.
Authors reported this study was funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association
Note: Session: LF.AOS,487; Scientific presentation #209 is being presented at 9:00 a.m. CT, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
Additional Resources:
- Multimedia, including a video perspective interview with American Heart Association volunteer expert, Karen Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, may be downloaded from the right column of the release link https://newsroom.heart.org/news/high-blood-pressure-complications-in-u-s-pregnancies-have-nearly-doubled?preview=8ff58d2d5e7353d318b436f93ef19ead
- Preeclampsia: Pathophysiology, Challenges, and Perspectives
- AHA Statement: Pregnant women with CVD need specialized care before, during and postpartum
- Early in pregnancy may be a prime time to promote heart health
- For more news at AHA Scientific Sessions 2020, follow us on Twitter @HeartNews #AHA20.
Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers are available here, and the Association’s overall financial information is available here.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
###
For Media Inquiries and AHA Volunteer Expert Perspective:
AHA News Media in Dallas: 214-706-1173; ahacommunications@heart.org
William Westmoreland: 214-706-1232; william.westmoreland@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org