Diagnosis and management of hypertension in pregnancy: summary of updated NICE guidance

### What you need to know Hypertension in pregnancy is a common condition, affecting about 10% of pregnant women. This includes women with chronic hypertension—which may be diagnosed before pregnancy or in the early stages of pregnancy (<20 weeks’ gestation)—and women with hypertension related to pregnancy (gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia) (see box 1). If not identified and treated, hypertension can lead to adverse events for both the woman and her baby, including increased risk of maternal stroke, lower birth weight, and increased risk of the baby requiring neonatal intensive care. Box 1 ### Definitions for hypertensive disorders of pregnancyRETURN TO TEXT General practitioners and specialists other than obstetricians play a vital role in the identification of hypertension during pregnancy, first …