News | High blood pressure during pregnancy increases multiple pregnancy risks
A University of Bristol-led study of more than 700,000 pregnant women found that higher maternal blood pressure itself significantly increases the risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes. The findings provide stronger causal evidence in the debate over whether gestational hypertension is merely a risk marker or a direct cause. The study was published January 14 in BMC Medicine.
Higher blood pressure was closely associated with preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, induction of labor, gestational diabetes, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Lead author Fernanda Morales-Berstein said maintaining normal blood pressure may help reduce several pregnancy complications.
"The higher maternal blood pressure is, the greater the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, induction, gestational diabetes, and NICU admission," Morales-Berstein said.
Hypertension is increasing among women of reproductive age as maternal age and obesity rise. Maria Magnus of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said it affects about 1 in 10 pregnant women, making it one of pregnancy's most common medical problems.
Previous observational studies linked hypertension and preeclampsia with perinatal risks but could not reliably separate causation from correlation because factors such as socioeconomic status and weight affect both blood pressure and outcomes.
Trials of blood-pressure treatment during pregnancy have generally been too small to clarify effects on some maternal and infant outcomes.
The team used Mendelian randomization, which uses genetic information to distinguish causation and is less vulnerable to confounding than traditional observational research.
The collaboration between the University of Bristol's MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health is the largest study of its kind and assessed 24 adverse outcomes.
Each 10 mmHg rise in maternal systolic blood pressure increased the risk of induction by 11% and preterm birth by 12%. Bristol epidemiology professor Deborah Lawlor said cross-checking with multiple methods strengthened confidence in the findings.
"Our study addresses confounding in observational research and limited sample sizes in trials. Agreement between methods under different assumptions increases confidence that the relationship is causal," Lawlor said.
Co-corresponding author Carolina Borges said using genetic information to isolate causality provides a stronger basis for prevention, monitoring, and treatment strategies.
The findings may support targeted maternal and child health policy, but further research is needed in non-European populations and high-quality trials must establish the best timing, medicines, and doses.
News | High blood pressure during pregnancy increases multiple pregnancy risks
News | High blood pressure during pregnancy increases multiple pregnancy risks
A University of Bristol-led study of more than 700,000 pregnant women found that higher maternal blood pressure itself significantly increases the risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes. The findings provide stronger causal evidence in the debate over whether gestational hypertension is merely a risk marker or a direct cause. The study was published January 14 in BMC Medicine.
Higher blood pressure was closely associated with preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, induction of labor, gestational diabetes, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Lead author Fernanda Morales-Berstein said maintaining normal blood pressure may help reduce several pregnancy complications.
"The higher maternal blood pressure is, the greater the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, induction, gestational diabetes, and NICU admission," Morales-Berstein said.
Hypertension is increasing among women of reproductive age as maternal age and obesity rise. Maria Magnus of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said it affects about 1 in 10 pregnant women, making it one of pregnancy's most common medical problems.
Previous observational studies linked hypertension and preeclampsia with perinatal risks but could not reliably separate causation from correlation because factors such as socioeconomic status and weight affect both blood pressure and outcomes.
Trials of blood-pressure treatment during pregnancy have generally been too small to clarify effects on some maternal and infant outcomes.
The team used Mendelian randomization, which uses genetic information to distinguish causation and is less vulnerable to confounding than traditional observational research.
The collaboration between the University of Bristol's MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health is the largest study of its kind and assessed 24 adverse outcomes.
Each 10 mmHg rise in maternal systolic blood pressure increased the risk of induction by 11% and preterm birth by 12%. Bristol epidemiology professor Deborah Lawlor said cross-checking with multiple methods strengthened confidence in the findings.
"Our study addresses confounding in observational research and limited sample sizes in trials. Agreement between methods under different assumptions increases confidence that the relationship is causal," Lawlor said.
Co-corresponding author Carolina Borges said using genetic information to isolate causality provides a stronger basis for prevention, monitoring, and treatment strategies.
The findings may support targeted maternal and child health policy, but further research is needed in non-European populations and high-quality trials must establish the best timing, medicines, and doses.
Story source:
Collected online