Study Reviewed by the Cross County Cardiology Education Team
Introduction Treating high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) during pregnancy can help prevent serious health problems for both the mother and baby. This blog post will look at how common high blood pressure is during pregnancy and how it has been treated over the years, especially after new guidelines were introduced in 2017 by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Study Methods Researchers used data from insurance claims in the United States from 2007 to 2021. They looked at how many pregnant women had high blood pressure and which medicines were used to treat it.
Key Findings
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Increase in High Blood Pressure: From 2008 to 2021, the number of pregnant women with high blood pressure went up from 1.8% to 3.7%. This means that out of nearly 2 million pregnancies, more women were dealing with this condition over the years.
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Stable Treatment Rates: Around 57% to 60% of pregnant women with high blood pressure were given medication during this time. This percentage didn’t change much over the years.
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Changes in Medication: The types of medicines used changed a lot:
- Methyldopa and Hydrochlorothiazide: Fewer women used these medicines (methyldopa dropped from 29% to 2%, and hydrochlorothiazide from 11% to 5%).
- Labetalol and Nifedipine: More women used these medicines (labetalol went from 19% to 42%, and nifedipine from 9% to 17%).
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Impact of 2017 Guidelines: The new 2017 guidelines didn’t change how many women had high blood pressure or how it was treated.
Conclusion The number of pregnant women with high blood pressure has doubled from 2008 to 2021. Labetalol has become the most commonly used medicine instead of methyldopa. However, only about 60% of women with high blood pressure during pregnancy are treated with medication.
Final Thoughts Managing high blood pressure during pregnancy is crucial for the health of both mother and baby. It's important to stay informed about the best practices and treatments available.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the Cross County Cardiology Education Team!
