Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy trends in the United States post aspirin recommendation guidelines

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate changes in the rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in the US after the publication of aspirin (ASA) recommendation guidelines by the USPSTF and ACOG.

Methods

A population-based retrospective cohort study was performed using the US Natality database. The pre-ASA group included births between 2010–2014. The post-ASA group were births between 2016–2021. Births in 2015 were excluded. Outcomes were rates of HDP. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Using the 2010–2014 HDP trend, a projected trend was calculated and compared to the actual trend across the entire cohort.

Results

There were 12,127,659 births in the pre-ASA group and 17,665,217 births in the post-ASA group. The post-ASA group had a significantly higher rate of overall HDP than the pre-ASA group (7.7 % vs 4.9 %; aOR 1.58, 95 % CI [1.57–1.59]). When stratified by gestational age at delivery, the post-ASA group had a significantly lower rate of preterm HDP prior to 37 weeks (21.6 % vs 23.7 %; aOR 0.90, 95 % CI [0.89–0.91]) and preterm HDP prior to 34 weeks (6.0 % vs 7.5 %; aOR 0.79, 95 % CI [0.78–0.81]). The actual HDP trend post-ASA recommendation was higher than projected for overall HDP and preterm HDP < 37 weeks but was not different for preterm HPD < 34 weeks.

Conclusion

While overall HDP is increasing, the rate of preterm births complicated by HDP has been decreasing. The actual trend for the overall HDP category and the two preterm HDP categories, however, remains either higher or no different compared to the projected trend post aspirin recommendation guidelines.