title: Hypertension in women of reproductive age in the United States: NHANES 1999-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the epidemiology of hypertension in women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using NHANES from 1999-2008, we identified 5,521 women age 20-44 years old. Hypertension status was determined using blood pressure measurements and/or self-reported medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated prevalence of hypertension in women of reproductive age was 7.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.9%-8.5%). The prevalence of anti-hypertensive pharmacologic therapy was 4.2% (95% CI 3.5%-4.9%). The prevalence of hypertension was relatively stable across the study period; the age and race adjusted odds of hypertension in 2007-2008 did not differ significantly from 1999-2000 (odds ratio 1.2, CI 0.8 to 1.7, p = 0.45). Significant independent risk factors associated with hypertension included older age, non-Hispanic black race (compared to non-Hispanic whites), diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and higher body mass index. The most commonly used antihypertensive medications included diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), and beta blockers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension occurs in about 8% of women of reproductive age. There are remarkable differences in the prevalence of hypertension between racial/ethnic groups. Obesity is a risk factor of particular importance in this population because it affects over 30% of young women in the U.S., is associated with more than 4 fold increased risk of hypertension, and is potentially modifiable.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetric Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. BBateman@partners.org
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Elena V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Kuklina
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Ellen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Seely
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hernández-Díaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008423:Maternal Age; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012098:Reproduction; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult