Stage 1 hypertension before 20 weeks of gestation was associated with postpartum antihypertensive use and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). In this secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology MFM, patients with singleton deliveries beyond 20 weeks at a tertiary care center between January 1, 2014, and June 8, 2016 were evaluated.

The cohort included 2,011 patients, of whom 465 (23.1%) met criteria for stage 1 hypertension before 20 weeks and 1,546 were normotensive with blood pressure (BP) <130/80 mm Hg. Patients with stage 1 hypertension had higher mean age and higher rates of obesity and pregestational diabetes mellitus. The incidence of HDP was higher in the stage 1 hypertension group (43.0% vs 23.8%; p<0.001).

Patients with stage 1 hypertension were more likely to require antihypertensive medication at 6 weeks postpartum (8.8% vs 2.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-3.54). This difference remained when the analysis was restricted to patients with HDP. Postpartum readmissions for HDP were also more frequent (3.9% vs 1.5%; aOR 2.11; 95% CI, 1.10-4.06).

Stage 1 hypertension before 20 weeks of gestation was associated with HDP, antihypertensive medication use at 6 weeks postpartum, and postpartum readmission for hypertension.