Who Is Affected by Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
High blood pressure
develops in about 10% of all
pregnancies in the United States.1
Preeclampsia occurs in 2% to 8% of all
pregnancies.2 In some populations and environments,
higher rates have been reported. Preeclampsia most often affects women
who:
- Are pregnant for the first time or have not been
pregnant for 10 or more years.3
- Have a
family history of preeclampsia.
- Are younger than 21 or older than
35.
- Are more than 20% over their ideal body weight. If your weight
is within this range, the higher your prepregnancy
body mass index, the greater your preeclampsia
risk.4
- Do not see their doctors for
prenatal checkups regularly.
Less than 1% of women with preeclampsia develop seizures
(eclampsia).5
Citations
-
Cunningham FG, et al. (2010). Pregnancy hypertension. In Williams Obstetrics, 23nd ed., pp. 706–755. New York: McGraw-Hill.
-
Duley L (2008). Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and hypertension, search date July 2007. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
-
Skjaerven R, et al. (2002). The interval between
pregnancies and the risk of preeclampsia. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(1): 33–38.
-
O'Brien TE, et al. (2003). Maternal body mass index
and the risk of preeclampsia: A systematic overview. Epidemiology, 14(3): 368–374.
-
Habli M, Sibai BM (2008). Hypertensive disorders of
pregnancy. In RS Gibbs et al., eds., Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp. 257–275. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins.
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
William Gilbert, MD - Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine |
|
Last Revised
|
November 3, 2010 |
Last Revised:
November 3, 2010
Cunningham FG, et al. (2010). Pregnancy hypertension. In Williams Obstetrics, 23nd ed., pp. 706–755. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Duley L (2008). Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and hypertension, search date July 2007. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
Skjaerven R, et al. (2002). The interval between
pregnancies and the risk of preeclampsia. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(1): 33–38.
O'Brien TE, et al. (2003). Maternal body mass index
and the risk of preeclampsia: A systematic overview. Epidemiology, 14(3): 368–374.
Habli M, Sibai BM (2008). Hypertensive disorders of
pregnancy. In RS Gibbs et al., eds., Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp. 257–275. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins.
