Prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and risk of hypertensive pregnancy among Latina women

Abstract

Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain have been associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, but previous studies have included few Latinas, a group at increased risk. We examined these associations in the Latina Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Study, a prospective cohort of 1231 women conducted from 2000 to 2004. In multivariable analysis, obese women (BMI > 29.0 kg/m(2)) had 2.5 times the risk of hypertensive pregnancy (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.8) and 2.7 times the risk of preeclampsia (95% CI, 1.2-5.8), compared with women whose BMI was 19.8 to 26.0 kg/m(2). Women with excessive gestational weight gain had a 3-fold increased risk of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (95% CI, 1.1-7.2) and a 4-fold risk of preeclampsia (95% CI, 1.2-14.5), compared with women achieving weight gain guidelines. These findings suggest prepregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain are associated with hypertension in pregnancy in a Latina population and could be potentially modifiable risk factors.