Abstract 15788: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Urban Black Women: The Biosocial Impact on Black Births (bibb) Study

Abstract

Introduction: Black women experience significant maternal mortality (3.3 times higher) compared to White women, and experience higher adverse outcomes. In the United States, cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of maternal mortality for Black women. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDOP) falls under the cardiovascular disease spectrum. Objective: To explore differences in women diagnosed with a HDOP compared to those that do not have HDOP. Methods: A total of 226 African American women from Metro-Detroit and Columbus, Ohio enrolled in a cross-sectional study who had recently gave birth. Women enrolled in a mixed methods study on social and biological stressors to preterm birth with a completed medical record abstraction were identified as having chronic hypertension or a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDOP) prior to the current pregnancy. HDOP is defined as chronic hypertension, chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia or eclampsia. Perinatal complications and birth outcomes were explored. Sociodemographic was derived from completed prenatal questionnaires. Chi square was used for categorical variable and T-test was used for continuous variables. Significance is defined as p ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age was 26.8±5.9 years. Approximately 70.4% (n=159) were from Detroit, MI and 29.6% were from Columbus, OH. The mean previous live births were 1.9±1.8 (range 0-8). The average number of prenatal visits with a physician were 9.2±2.9 (range 2-19) and the total number of any prenatal visits were 16.0±6.9 (range 1-44). Average baby gestational age is 37.9±2.2 weeks (range 15-26 weeks), and weight is 2998±703.4 grams. Approximately 60 women (26.5%) were identified with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Compared to women not diagnosed with a HDOP, women with a HDOP had an older mean age (28.3±6.4 vs 26.3±5.6), p=0.023; had more prenatal visits (18.2±7.6 vs 15.6±6.5) p=0.007; had babies at a younger gestational age (37.2±2.1 vs 38.2±2.1), p=0.002. Conclusion: These findings will aid in determining factors associated with HDOP in our population, and aid in determining next steps to reduce historic mortality in this group.