Types of hypertension that can occur in pregnancy2
| Hypertension | Definition | Prevalence | Risk factors |
| Chronic hypertension | SBP≥140 or DBP≥90 mm Hg before pregnancy or before 20 weeks of gestation | 14% of pregnancies | Obesity, a family history of hypertension, advanced maternal age. |
| Gestational hypertension | SBP≥140 or DBP≥90 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation | 2%–5% of pregnancies | (Pre)gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, nulliparity, twin pregnancy, obesity, pregnancy via assisted reproductive technology and born of an HDP pregnancy |
| Pre-eclampsia | SBP≥140 or DBP≥90 mm Hg after 20 weeks of gestation and the presence of proteinuria (≥300 mg/day or ≥1 g/L on dipstick testing), maternal organ dysfunction (renal insufficiency, liver involvement, neurological complications (including eclampsia) or thrombocytopenia) or fetal growth restriction | 2%–5% of pregnancies | Those mentioned under gestational hypertension and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, maternal age<18 or >35 years, black race, first degree relative with pre-eclampsia, migraine, SSRI use after the first trimester, thrombophilia, chronic kidney disease and autoimmune disease |
| Superimposed pre-eclampsia | SBP≥140 or DBP≥90 mmHg before pregnancy or before 20 weeks of gestation with a new-onset proteinuria or an acute exacerbation of hypertension or proteinuria in the second half of pregnancy or sudden systemic features of pre-eclampsia | Previous pre-eclampsia |
DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDP, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; SBP, systolic blood pressure; SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.