ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 202: Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Jan;133(1):1. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003018.

Abstract

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy constitute one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. It has been estimated that preeclampsia complicates 2-8% of pregnancies globally (). In Latin America and the Caribbean, hypertensive disorders are responsible for almost 26% of maternal deaths, whereas in Africa and Asia they contribute to 9% of deaths. Although maternal mortality is much lower in high-income countries than in developing countries, 16% of maternal deaths can be attributed to hypertensive disorders (). In the United States, the rate of preeclampsia increased by 25% between 1987 and 2004 (). Moreover, in comparison with women giving birth in 1980, those giving birth in 2003 were at 6.7-fold increased risk of severe preeclampsia (). This complication is costly: one study reported that in 2012 in the United States, the estimated cost of preeclampsia within the first 12 months of delivery was $2.18 billion ($1.03 billion for women and $1.15 billion for infants), which was disproportionately borne by premature births (). This Practice Bulletin will provide guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / diagnosis
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / prevention & control*
  • Obstetrics
  • Perinatal Care*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnosis
  • Pre-Eclampsia / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis*
  • Societies, Medical
  • United States