Who is affected by preeclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy

High blood pressure develops in about 10% of all pregnancies in the United States.¹ Of pregnant women with chronic high blood pressure, nearly 1 in 4 develops preeclampsia.²

Preeclampsia occurs in about 5% of all pregnancies.³ In some populations and environments, higher rates have been reported. Preeclampsia most often affects women who:

• Are pregnant for the first time or have not been pregnant for 10 or more years.⁴
• Have a family history of preeclampsia. Your risk is greatest if either you or your partner were born from a pregnancy affected by preeclampsia.⁵
• Are younger than 21 or older than 35.
• Are more than 20% over their ideal body weight. If your weight is within this range, the higher your prepregnancy body mass index, the greater your preeclampsia risk.⁶
• Do not see their doctors for prenatal checkups regularly.

Less than 1% of women with preeclampsia develop seizures (eclampsia).⁷

Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH	Last Updated: November 22, 2006
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine William Gilbert, MD - Perinatology
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