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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Screening

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: September 2023

Workgroups: Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Workgroup

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for hypertensive disorders in pregnant people with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders include gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia. 

This recommendation applies to pregnant people without a known diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy or chronic hypertension (high blood pressure). 

USPSTF also noted that Black, Native American, and Alaska Native people are much more likely to both have and die from a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and that more research is needed into ways to address these inequities.

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Objectives related to this resource (4)

Reduce maternal deaths — MICH‑04
LHI label
Getting worse
Reduce severe maternal complications identified during delivery hospitalizations — MICH‑05
Getting worse
Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care — MICH‑08
Getting worse
Increase control of high blood pressure in adults — HDS‑05
LHI label
Baseline only

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2023). Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Screening. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertensive-disorders-pregnancy-screening.