Press Release
☷CDC Press Release Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy affect 1 in 7 hospital deliveriesRate increases indicate need for better prevention recognition and treatment
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( By Press Release office)
Apr 28,2022
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Press ReleaseEmbargoed Until: Thursday , April 28 , 2022 , 1:00 p . m . ETContact: Media Relations ( 404 ) 639 - 3286The prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy ( HDP ) among delivery hospitalizations increased from about 13% in 2017 to 16% in 2019 , affecting at least 1 in 7 delivery hospitalizations during this period , according to a CDC report . About a third of those who died during hospital delivery had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy documented . HDP are common and can cause severe complications for pregnant people , such as heart attacks and strokes , and are a leading cause of pregnancy - related death in the United States . It includes both pregnancy - associated hypertension that begins during or after pregnancy , and chronic hypertension that begins before pregnancy and continues during pregnancy . “There are many strategies that clinicians can use to identify , monitor , and manage people with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy to prevent severe complications and deaths . A great example is home - monitoring of blood pressure during and following pregnancy , ” said Janet Wright , M . D . , F . A . C . C . , director of CDC’s Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion . “At a systems level , intentional programming like Perinatal Quality Collaboratives can improve the quality of care and health outcomes and translate findings into interventions . ”Characteristics associated with increased risk for HDP , such as advanced maternal age , obesity , and diabetes have increased in the U . S . and may explain the increase in HDP prevalence . Racial and ethnic disparities of HDP among hospital deliveries are stark , with HDP affecting more than 1 in 5 delivery hospitalizations of Black women and about 1 in 6 delivery hospitalizations of American Indian and Alaska Native women . Factors contributing to racial and ethnic inequities in HDP include differences in access to and quality of health care , and higher prevalence of characteristics associated with increased risk like obesity . Racial bias in the U . S . healthcare system can affect HDP care from screening and diagnosis to treatment . Psychosocial stress from experiencing racism has also been found to be associated with chronic hypertension . “As healthcare professionals , we must recognize the factors that contribute to racial inequities and work individually and collectively to reduce these rates . ” said Wanda Barfield , M . D . , M . P . H . , director of CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion . “Addressing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is a key strategy in reducing inequities in pregnancy - related mortality . ”The highest prevalence of HDP was among delivery hospitalizations of women over the age of 45 ( 31% ) . HDP was also high among people who reside in rural counties ( 16% ) , reside in lower income ZIP codes ( 16% ) , and delivered in hospitals in the South ( 16% ) or Midwest ( 15% ) . Disparities based on location might be due to differences in the prevalence of characteristics associated with increased risk of HDP , including diet , tobacco use , physical activity patterns , experiencing poverty , or access to care . Strengthening regional networks of health care facilities providing risk - appropriate maternal care through telemedicine and transferring people with high - risk conditions to facilities that can provide specialty services are strategies to reduce these disparities . Severe complications and deaths from HDP are preventable with equitable implementation of public health and clinical strategies . These include efforts across the life course for preventing HDP; identifying , monitoring , and appropriately treating those with HDP with continuous and coordinated care; increasing awareness of urgent maternal warning signs; and implementing quality improvement initiatives to address severe hypertension . Additional Resources:High blood pressure during pregnancyPreventing Pregnancy - Related DeathsCDC’s Hear Her campaign , which raises awareness of urgent maternal warning signs .
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