Blood Pressure in Pregnancy and Hypertension 10–14 Years After Delivery

We examined the association between blood pressure (BP) in the early third trimester and hypertension 10–14 years after delivery per American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommendations. We conducted a secondary analysis using the prospective HAPO FUS (Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Follow-up Study) in patients without a chronic hypertension diagnosis. The exposure and outcome were systolic and diastolic BP measured in the early third trimester and 10–14 years after delivery, respectively. Among 4,697 participants in the HAPO FUS, at 10–14 years after delivery (median age 41.6 years), 8.3% had elevated BP, 14.1% had stage 1 hypertension, and 6.1% had stage 2 hypertension. Compared with normal BP, elevated BP in the early third trimester was associated with an increased risk of stage 1 hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.76; 95% CI, 1.91–4.00) and stage 2 hypertension (aOR 3.76; 95% CI, 2.28–6.19). Stage 1 hypertension was associated with an increased risk of stage 2 hypertension (aOR 6.16; 4.24, 8.94). Pregnant individuals with high BP in the third trimester were at increased risk of developing hypertension 10–14 years after delivery.