Welcome to another insightful post from the Cross County Cardiology Education Team. Today, we’re diving into the importance of monitoring blood pressure in new mothers after they’ve experienced hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Key Points
- Question: How common is persistent and severe hypertension after leaving the hospital following a new onset of a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy?
- Findings: In a study of 2705 new mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, 81.8% continued to have high blood pressure after leaving the hospital. Those with ongoing hypertension had higher chances of needing emergency care or being readmitted to the hospital.
- Meaning: These findings show the crucial role of blood pressure monitoring programs for new mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Understanding the Study
Importance: After dealing with a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, a mother’s blood pressure can get worse once she leaves the hospital. Knowing the risk factors and outcomes for continued hypertension is essential.
Objective: The study aimed to identify risk factors and outcomes for new mothers with ongoing and severe hypertension after leaving the hospital. This was done through a remote blood pressure management program.
Design, Setting, and Participants: The study included 2705 new mothers who had preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and no history of hypertension before pregnancy. These women delivered their babies between September 2019 and June 2021 and were part of a remote BP monitoring program at a referral hospital. Data was analyzed from August 2021 to January 2023.
Exposure: The study looked at different categories of blood pressure in the postpartum period while the mothers were still in the hospital.
Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes measured were hospital readmissions and emergency department visits within the first 6 weeks after giving birth. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression.
Results:
- Of the 2705 participants (average age, 29.8 years), 2214 (81.8%) had persistent hypertension after leaving the hospital.
- 382 (14.1%) developed severe hypertension post-discharge.
- 610 (22.6%) started antihypertensive medication after leaving the hospital.
Women with severe hypertension had higher odds of needing emergency care (aOR, 1.85) and being readmitted to the hospital (aOR, 6.75) compared to those whose blood pressure normalized. The study also found that there was significant overlap in blood pressure levels after discharge, suggesting that the current thresholds for starting antihypertensive medication might need to be adjusted.
Conclusions and Relevance: The study found that over 80% of women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy continued to have high blood pressure after leaving the hospital, and around 14% developed severe hypertension. These results highlight the importance of remote blood pressure monitoring programs and suggest the need for better tools to identify at-risk individuals and possibly lower the thresholds for starting medication after giving birth.
Why This Matters
Persistent hypertension after pregnancy can lead to serious health issues. Monitoring blood pressure remotely allows healthcare providers to keep a close watch on new mothers and intervene early if problems arise. This approach not only helps in managing blood pressure more effectively but also in reducing the chances of emergency visits and hospital readmissions.
Takeaway
If you’ve experienced a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, it’s crucial to continue monitoring your blood pressure even after you leave the hospital. Remote monitoring programs can provide the necessary support and care to ensure you and your baby stay healthy.
Stay informed and take control of your heart health with Cross County Cardiology.
