Gestational hypertension rates rise in the United States

A report from the US National Center for Health Statistics shows a significant rise in gestational hypertension in the United States. Between 2016 and 2024, the rate of this pregnancy-related condition increased by 73%.

Data analyzed from birth certificates indicates that while 6% of women giving birth in 2016 were reported to have gestational hypertension, that figure rose to 10.4% by 2024. This means more than 1 in 10 women giving birth in 2024 were affected by the condition.

Gestational hypertension is characterized by high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy in individuals who previously had normal blood pressure. It is distinct from chronic hypertension, which begins before pregnancy, and preeclampsia, which involves signs of organ damage, such as kidney issues.