Other risk factors for pre-eclampsia are discussed in Section 26.2. Women with chronic hypertension are at greater risk of pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption, superimposed pre-eclampsia, fetal loss, preterm labour, low birth weight, perinatal death ( Jain 1997 Sibai 2002) and gestational diabetes ( Hedderson & Ferrara 2008). Pre-eclampsia in the second half of pregnancy occurs in about 22% of women with chronic hypertension ( Lowe et al 2015).Ģ4.1.2 Risks associated with high blood pressure during pregnancy.A substantial number of pregnancies (0.2–5%) are complicated by pre-existing hypertension ( Lowe et al 2015).Among Indigenous adults, 18% of women had measured high blood pressure ( AIHW 2016).In Australia in 2014–15 ( AIHW 2016), 22% of adult women had measured high blood pressure, excluding those taking medication.superimposed pre-eclampsia: development of one or more of the systemic features of pre-eclampsia after 20 weeks pregnancy in a woman with chronic hypertension.pre-eclampsia: a multi-system disorder characterised by hypertension and involvement of one or more other organ systems and/or the fetus, with raised blood pressure after 20 weeks pregnancy commonly the first manifestation and proteinuria a common additional feature (although not required to make a clinical diagnosis) ( see Chapter 26).gestational hypertension: new onset hypertension (defined as a blood pressure ≥140 mmHg systolic and/ or ≥90 mm diastolic) after 20 weeks pregnancy without any maternal or fetal features of pre-eclampsia, followed by return of blood pressure to normal within 3 months after the birth.chronic hypertension: blood pressure ≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mm diastolic confirmed before pregnancy or before 20 completed weeks pregnancy, without a known cause ( essential hypertension), associated with a secondary cause such as existing kidney disease ( secondary hypertension) or associated with measurement in a healthcare setting ( white coat hypertension).Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy include ( Lowe et al 2015): Healthy pregnancy is characterised by a fall in blood pressure, detectable in the first trimester, usually reaching its lowest point in the second trimester and rising to pre-conception levels towards the end of the third trimester ( Lowe et al 2015). After 20 weeks, high blood pressure and/or proteinuria may indicate pre-eclampsia. Measuring blood pressure at the first antenatal visit aims to identify women with chronic hypertension (high blood pressure), which may be related to existing kidney disease.

Elderly blood pressure chart