Characteristics of Patients Who Attend the 7- to 10-Day Postpartum Visit for Blood Pressure Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess maternal characteristics that predict attendance of postpartum blood pressure evaluation in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

STUDY

DESIGN

A retrospective case-control study of patients with HDP delivering at a single academic institution (2014-2018). Diagnosis of HDP included gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, and superimposed preeclampsia. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine maternal characteristics independently associated with attendance of the 7- to 10-day postpartum blood pressure evaluation.

RESULTS

Of the 1,041 patients included in the analysis, 603 (57.9%) attended the 7- to 10-day postpartum blood pressure check. Maternal sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric factors differed significantly between patients who attended the postpartum blood pressure visit and those who did not. In univariable analyses, nulliparity, non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity, public insurance, HDP with severe features, cesarean birth, gestational age at delivery, receipt of magnesium, mild-range blood pressures on day of discharge, and initiation of antihypertensive medication were associated with attendance of the 7- to 10-day postpartum visit. In multivariable analysis, factors significantly associated with higher odds of attending the blood pressure visit were nulliparity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.58; 95% confidence interval: [CI]: 1.14-2.17), severe HDP (aOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.44-2.61), and cesarean birth (aOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.43-2.59). In contrast, factors associated with lower odds of attendance were non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity compared with non-Hispanic white (aOR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.47-0.97), and public insurance (aOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45-0.93) compared with private insurance.

CONCLUSION

Clinical factors such as nulliparity, severe HDP, and cesarean birth were associated with higher rates of postpartum blood pressure evaluation attendance, whereas sociodemographic factors such as maternal non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity and public insurance were associated with lower odds of postpartum blood pressure check attendance.

KEY POINTS: · A total of 57.9% of patients with HDP attended in person postpartum blood pressure check.. · Nulliparity, severe features of HDP, and cesarean birth were associated with higher rates of attendance.. · Non-Hispanic black race and ethnicity and public insurance were associated with lower attendance..