Pregnancy High Blood Pressure Surges 73%

Hypertension during pregnancy has seen a substantial increase in the United States. Between 2016 and 2024, the rate of high blood pressure among pregnant women nationwide climbed by 73 percent. By 2024, one in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. had high blood pressure, a significant jump from approximately one in 17 in 2016. This trend is a major concern, as hypertensive disorders are a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths and diseases. The complications associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy are severe. They include an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Mothers also face heightened risks of placental abruption, organ failure, and long-term heart disease. These figures, derived from birth certificates, do not account for chronic hypertension diagnosed before pregnancy, which has also been increasing. The rise in pregnancy-related hypertension is being observed across all racial, age, and geographic groups.