HDP exposure in gestation, maternal hypertension spell increased hypertension risk in offspring

Exposure to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in gestation and maternal hypertension both contribute to an elevated risk of chronic hypertension in offspring, as reported in a study.

The population-based cohort study included 8,755 individuals born between 1976 and 1982 to 7,544 women who all resided in the same community at the time of delivery. HDP was determined using a previously validated algorithm. Meanwhile, diagnosis of chronic hypertension in mothers and their offspring was identified using diagnostic codes.

Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that HDP exposure was associated with a 50-percent increase in the risk of chronic hypertension in offspring (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.18–1.90).

Additionally, individuals whose mothers had chronic hypertension had a 73-percent greater risk of chronic hypertension (HR, 1.73, 95 percent CI, 1.48–2.02).

Both HDP exposure and maternal chronic hypertension remained significantly associated with increased risk of hypertension in offspring when included together in a multivariate model. Evidence of a synergistic additive interaction was found, with having both exposures being associated with a 2.4-fold increase in the risk of hypertension in offspring.

The findings suggest that HDP exposure in utero, in addition to maternal chronic hypertension, may put the offspring at greater risk of hypertension.