Perinatal Outcomes Associated With Management of Stage 1 Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal blood pressure (BP) below 130/80 mm Hg compared with 130-139/80-89 mm Hg and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of CHAP (Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy), an open label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Participants with mean BP below 140/90 mm Hg were grouped as below 130/80 mm Hg compared with 130-139/80-89 mm Hg by averaging postrandomization clinic BP throughout pregnancy. The primary composite outcome was preeclampsia with severe features, indicated preterm birth before 35 weeks of gestation, placental abruption, or fetal or neonatal death. The secondary outcome was small for gestational age (SGA).

Results: Of 2,408 patients in CHAP, 2,096 met study criteria; 1,328 had mean BP 130-139/80-89 mm Hg and 768 had mean BP below 130/80 mm Hg. Participants with mean BP below 130/80 mm Hg were more likely to be older, on antihypertensive medication, in the active treatment arm, and to have lower BP at enrollment. Mean clinic BP below 130/80 mm Hg was associated with lower frequency of the primary outcome (16.0% vs 35.8%, adjusted relative risk 0.45; 95% CI 0.38-0.54) as well as lower risk of severe preeclampsia and indicated birth before 35 weeks of gestation. There was no association with SGA.

Conclusion: In pregnant patients with mild chronic hypertension, mean BP below 130/80 mm Hg was associated with improved pregnancy outcomes without increased risk of SGA.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02299414.

Figure 1.

Flow chart of participants. BP, blood pressure.

Figure 2.

Mean blood pressure after randomization. Between randomization and delivery, the overall mean blood pressure level was lower in the low blood pressure group (red) than in the higher blood pressure group (blue), both for systolic and diastolic pressure. Bars indicate standard errors.