title: High blood pressure six weeks postpartum after hypertensive pregnancy disorders at term is associated with chronic hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension in pregnancy is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Blood pressure monitoring in women who experienced hypertension in pregnancy after puerperium has been suggested to be important for early detection and prevention of CVD. The aim of this study is to evaluate if hypertension six weeks postpartum is associated with chronic hypertension in women with a history of term hypertensive pregnancy disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with a history of term gestational hypertension or preeclampsia were included in a follow up study of the HYPITAT trial. Blood pressures were measured six weeks and 2.5years postpartum according to the study protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertension was defined as a diastolic blood pressure ⩾90mmHg and/or a systolic blood pressure ⩾140mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication. Differences in categorical variables between groups were analyzed by Chi-Square tests. Blood pressure was analyzed using unpaired t-tests and Wilcox ranked tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 187 women who had term hypertensive pregnancy disorders, 75 (40%) had hypertension at six weeks postpartum. Of these 46 (61%) had hypertension 2.5years postpartum. In contrast, of 112 women without hypertension at six weeks postpartum, 36 (32%) had hypertension 2.5years (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among 61% of women who had hypertensive pregnancy disorders at term, high blood pressure at six weeks postpartum indicated chronic hypertension. This warrants the importance of identification of hypertension 6weeks postpartum for women's future health.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: vsvisser@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Centre Haaglanden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gyanecology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franx
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Pampus
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: de Groot
keywords: Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Chronic hypertension; Gestational hypertension; Preeclampsia