A recent paper published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology used Southampton Women’s Survey data to explore whether a current definition of high blood pressure in pregnancy is appropriate. 3003 SWS mothers had at least three blood pressure measurements taken in pregnancy. Associations were explored with pregnancy and birth outcomes: development of pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth, small-for-gestational age and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.

The study found that higher blood pressure according to the current definition was associated with an increased risk of less favourable outcomes and concluded that the current definition is useful. In addition, the study considered visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and found that higher variability is a risk factor for less favourable outcomes. The study concluded that both high blood pressure measurements and high visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure measurements could be useful ways of identifying women in need of greater care during pregnancy.

Wilson MG, Bone JN, Slade LJ, Mistry HD, Singer J, Crozier SR, Godfrey KM, Baird J, von Dadelszen P and Magee LA (2024) Blood pressure measurement and adverse pregnancy outcomes: A cohort study testing blood pressure variability and alternatives to 140/90 mmHg. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 131:1006-1016. [https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17724]