title: Racial differences in gestational weight gain and pregnancy-related hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to examine racial differences in gestational weight gain (GWG) and pregnancy-related hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression models tested racial differences in adequacy of GWG and pregnancy-induced hypertension in all singleton live births from the South Carolina 2004-2006 birth certificates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with white women, black and Hispanic women had 16%-46% lower odds of gaining weight above the recommendations. However, the odds of inadequate GWG was ∼50% higher in black and Hispanic women with a pregnancy body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m(2). Furthermore, compared with women with adequate GWG, women with excessive GWG had higher odds of pregnancy-related hypertension (underweight: 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI; 1.66, 3.32]; normal: 2.05, 95% CI [1.84, 2.27]; overweight: 1.93, 95% CI [1.64, 2.27]; obese: 1.46, 95% CI [1.30, 1.63]). Among women with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2), black women had higher odds of pregnancy-related hypertension than white women (underweight: 1.64, 95% CI [1.14, 2.36]; normal weight: 1.28, 95% CI [1.15, 1.42]), whereas among women with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2), Hispanic women had 40% lower odds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Programs are needed to curb excessive GWG in all racial groups and to help some sub-groups ensure adequate GWG. Maternal obesity and GWG are two factors that should be used in combination to reduce racial differences in pregnancy-related hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia. Electronic address: jliu@mailbox.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Alexa E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Courtney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Myriam E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilcox
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001741:Black or African American
keywords: Epidemiology; Health disparity; Obesity; pregnancy