A research letter published in JAMA revealed trends in the risk factors for preeclampsia among pregnant women in the United States from 2010 to 2021, documenting an increase in both high and moderate risk factors associated with this pregnancy complication.
Preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy, posed risks to both maternal and neonatal health. The research letter, utilizing data from the National Vital Statistics System, examined over 32 million live births between 24 to 42 weeks' gestation. Researchers identified trends in risk factors including chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, multifetal gestation, obesity, advanced maternal age, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and interpregnancy intervals.
Key Findings:
High Risk Factors:
- Chronic Hypertension: Increased from 1.2% to 2.7% (125% relative increase; P < .001).
- Pregestational Diabetes: Rose from 0.7% to 1.1% (57.1% relative increase; P < .001).
Multifetal Gestation: Decreased from 1.7% to 1.2% (29.4% relative decrease; P < .001).
Moderate Risk Factors:
- Obesity: Increased from 22.5% to 30.5% (35.6% relative increase; P < .001).
- Advanced Maternal Age: Increased from 14.7% to 20.1% (36.7% relative increase; P < .001).
- IVF: Rose from 0.5% to 1.5% (200% relative increase; P < .001).
- Interpregnancy Interval: Increased from 5.6% to 6.3% (12.5% relative increase; P < .001).
- Nulliparity: Decreased from 42.8% to 40.0% (6.5% relative decrease; P < .001).
- Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Increased from 4.4% to 9.4% (113.6% relative increase; P < .001).
The research letter noted an increase in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, reflecting trends observed in the general female population regarding chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Prior research indicated an increase in diabetes prevalence from 9.3% to 11.4% between 1988 and 2012 and an increase in hypertension from 43.5% to 45.4% between 1990 and 2018.
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.