Hypertension Before Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes: Secondary Analysis of North Carolina Pregnancy Risks Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Data

Abstract Background: Chronic hypertension complicates birth outcomes. This secondary analysis of data from the North Carolina 2009-2011 Pregnancy Risks Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) examined factors associated with infant outcomes (preterm birth and small for gestational age) among women with hypertension before pregnancy to determine if the maternal age and race/ethnicity moderated the effect of preexisting hypertension on preterm birth and small for gestational age infants.Methods: We performed logistic regression to determine whether hypertension before pregnancy (HTN, n=292; non-HTN controls, n=2625), maternal age and race/ethnicity (Black vs Non-Black) and their interactions with hypertension before pregnancy predicted preterm birth and small for gestational age infants compared to normotensive women. Results: Results indicated that women with hypertension before pregnancy had significantly higher rates of preterm birth (29.8% vs. 21.3%) and small for gestational infants (23.0% vs. 17.9%) compared to non-HTN controls without adjusting for covariates. HTN had an effect on preterm birth that was independent of other maternal risk factors (aOR= 1.31) after adjusting for covariates . Being Black was associated with a greater likelihood of preterm birth (aOR=1.55). Conclusion: Hypertension before pregnancy is more likely to be associated Black race and with adverse birth outcomes. Black women are especially likely to experience poor birth outcomes. Continuous education to encourage all women and especially women of color and women with chronic illness to access preconception care is needed