U.S. Gestational Hypertension Rates Rise Nationwide, Study Finds

A CDC analysis of all U.S. births from 2016 to 2024 shows gestational hypertension increased 73 % nationwide, reaching 10.4 % of pregnancies in 2024 – roughly one in ten pregnant women. State-level growth varied, with the steepest jumps in Hawaii (+144 %) and Idaho (+21 %). Eight states recorded increases of 100 % or more, while rates exceeded 13 % in several states such as Minnesota and Alaska.

A separate retrospective cohort study of 233 deliveries at Cabell Huntington Hospital in the Appalachian region (Marshall University OB/GYN department) found that first‑trimester stage 1 hypertension (130‑139 mm Hg systolic or 80‑89 mm Hg diastolic) significantly raised the risk of developing gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and earlier delivery compared with normotensive women. The findings highlight the need for targeted monitoring and intervention for pregnant patients with elevated blood pressure, even when chronic hypertension is not yet diagnosed.