BP variability during pregnancy may indicate short-term complications but not future cardiovascular disease. A Journal of the American Heart Association study found that higher visit-to-visit BP variability predicted severe hypertension and preeclampsia but did not increase long-term cardiovascular risk.

The secondary analysis drew on data from 12,509 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). BPV was measured using standard deviation, average real variability, and variability independent of mean across antenatal visits. Outcomes included pregnancy complications and long-term maternal health over 22 years of follow-up.

Women with greater systolic and diastolic BP variability had higher odds of developing severe hypertension and preeclampsia, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.30 to 2.11. However, BP variability during pregnancy was not linked to later hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease after adjustment for confounding factors.

These findings suggest that fluctuations in BP between antenatal visits provide important clues to short-term maternal risk but offer limited predictive value for future cardiovascular disease. Routine BP tracking during pregnancy remains essential for preventing immediate complications and improving maternal outcomes.