Objective: Postpartum Hypertension (PPHT) is defined as elevated blood pressure (BP) (systolic >= 140 mmHg, diastolic >= 90 mmHg) after delivery. PPHT is frequent and has various etiologies. In addition, several factors including hemodynamic fluctuations, sodium homeostasis, and stress attribute to dynamic changes in blood pressure. In this analysis, we focused on early BP trends and therapeutic intensity scores (TIS) trajectories during the first three months after delivery. Design and method: Starting in June 2020, patients were enrolled in the Basel-PPHT Cohort. Those with chronic hypertension (CH), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and de novo PPHT were eligible. This analysis included all patients with both a mobile App, which leads patients through guideline conform home BP measurements (HBPM), and a 24-hour ambulatory BP measurement 3 months after delivery. Therapy adjustments were done at the discretion of the treating physician via telemedicine consultations based on HBPM. BP and TIS trajectories were evaluated. TIS as quantification of treatment was defined as seen in Figure 1. Normotensive values were defined as systolic/diastolic <135mmHg/<85mmHg (HBPM and mean awake ABPM). BP comparisons between baseline visit (BV) defined as BP at enrollment to first post-baseline visit (FPBV) and landmark visit at 3 months post-delivery (LV). Results: 41 participants were included in this analysis. The mean (SD) age was 33(±4.9). BV, FPBV, and LV were conducted at a median (IQR)) of 3(3), 18(7), and 112 (28) days after delivery, respectively. Figure 1 shows BP and TIS trajectories. Mean systolic/diastolic BP decreased by 13(0.6)/2(1.7) mmHg between BV and FPBV, p=0.00/p=0.09, without a significant change of TIS. Whereas, changes in BP were not significant between FPBV and LV, but TIS significantly decreased (p<0.00). At LV median awake systolic/diastolic BP was 127(14)/ 82(9) mmHg, with 17% of participants on antihypertensive treatment, compared to 95% at BV. Conclusions: This analysis shows a significant decrease in BP during the transition period to ambulatory care. BP medication could be down-titrated in a relevant proportion of patients. These trends indicate the need for close monitoring of these patients in the early postpartum period.
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