Chronic hypertension and risk of preterm delivery: National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents to Adult Health. Issue 3 (2nd February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Delker, Erin; Bandoli, Gretchen; LaCoursiere, Yvette; Ferran, Karen; Gallo, Linda; Oren, Eyal; Gahagan, Sheila; Ramos, Gladys A.; Allison, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology. Volume 36:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 370
• Page End: 379
• Publication Date: 2022-02-02
• Subjects: blood pressure -- chronic hypertension -- pre‐pregnancy -- preterm delivery; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Pediatric epidemiology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12858
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-5022

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Chronic hypertension during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. In 2017, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) lowered thresholds to classify hypertension in non‐pregnant adults to SBP ≥ 130 mmHg and DBP ≥ 80 mmHg (ie stage I hypertension), resulting in an additional 4.5‐million reproductive‐aged women meeting criteria for hypertension. Little is known about effects of pre‐pregnancy blood pressure (BP) in this range. Objectives: To examine the effect of pre‐pregnancy maternal BP on preterm delivery. Methods: We analysed the data from two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, including participants that had measured BP at Wave IV (2008–09) and a pregnancy that resulted in a singleton live birth between Waves IV and V (2016–18; n = 2038). We categorised BP using ACC/AHA cut‐offs: normal (SBP < 120 mmHg and DBP < 80 mmHg), elevated (SBP 120–129 mmHg and DBP < 80 mmHg), hypertension stage I (SBP 130–139 mmHg or DBP 80–89 mmHg) and hypertension stage II (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg). We estimated risk ratios (RR) with log‐binomial regression adjusting for maternal demographics, anthropometrics and medication use. Results: The prevalence of preterm delivery was 12.6%. A standard deviation (SD) increment in SBP (SD = 12.2 mmHg) and DBP (SD = 9.3 mmHg) was associated with a 14% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2, 27) and 20% (95% CI 4, 37) higher risk of preterm delivery. Compared to normotensive controls, stage I (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01, 1.74) and stage II (RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.89, 2.00) hypertension were associated with increased risk. Conclusions: We observed greater risk of preterm delivery among women with higher pre‐pregnancy BP. Women with stage I hypertension during pregnancy may benefit from increased BP monitoring. Additional studies on the utility of foetal surveillance in this group are warranted.