Hypertension in Pregnancy Among Immigrant and Swedish Women: A Cohort Study of All Pregnant Women in Sweden

Abstract

Background Little is known about risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in both first‐ and second‐generation immigrant women in Europe and other Western countries; such knowledge may help elucidate the influence of genetic versus social factors on such risks. We aimed to study both first‐ and second‐generation immigrant women for the presence of all types of hypertension (preexisting hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia) during pregnancy. Methods and Results A cohort study was conducted using data derived from the Swedish National Birth Register, the National Patient Register, and the Total Population Register. We used Cox regression analysis to compute hazard ratios (HRs) and 99% CIs while adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. The first‐generation study included a total of 1 084 212 deliveries and 68 311 hypertension cases, and the second‐generation study included 989 986 deliveries and 67 505 hypertension cases. The fully adjusted HR (with 99% CI) for hypertension in pregnancy among first‐generation immigrant women was 0.69 (0.66–0.72), and among second‐generation immigrant women, it was 0.88 (0.86–0.91), compared with Swedish‐born women with 2 Swedish‐born parents. Women born in Finland or with parent(s) from Finland had higher risks, with fully adjusted HRs (99% CIs) of 1.30 (1.18–1.43) and 1.12 (1.07–1.17), respectively. Conclusions Both first‐ and second‐generation immigrant women had overall lower risks of hypertension in pregnancy compared with other Swedish women. However, the risk reduction was less pronounced in second‐generation compared with first‐generation immigrant women, suggesting that environmental factors in Sweden may have an important influence on risk of hypertension during pregnancy.

JAHA Go Red for Women Spotlight on Women and Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke

“…Wändell et al documented the knowledge gap about hypertensive disorders during pregnancy among immigrant and nonimmigrant women in Sweden using data from several registries, including the National Birth Registry. 13 They noted that first‐generation immigrant women and, to a lesser extent, second‐generation immigrant women had a lower risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and highlighted the need for more research to understand the potential environmental and social factors that may be protective.…”