Factors associated with postpartum follow-up and persistent hypertension among women with severe preeclampsia

Objective:to determine factors associated with lower 6-week postpartum follow-up rates and persistent hypertension among women with preeclampsia with severe features (pec-s).study design:planned secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study of women with pec-s. outcomes were (1) attendance at the 6-week postpartum visit and (2) persistent hypertension.results:one hundred ninety-three women were in the final cohort. the 6-week follow-up rate was 52.3%. factors associated with lower follow-up were african-american race (or 0.37 (0.18–0.77)) and <5 prenatal visits (or 0.44 (0.20–0.97)). women with diabetes and women with a cesarean had higher follow-up (or 4.00 (1.09–14.66) and 2.61 (1.40–4.88), respectively). among those with 6-week follow-up, 21% had persistent hypertension. obese women, women diagnosed with pec-s by severe range blood pressure (bp) and women discharged home on bp medication were more likely to have persistent hypertension (or 3.50 7 (1.06–11.58), 3.58 (1.11-11.54) and 3.04 (1.12–8.23), respectively).conclusion:we identified a subgroup of women at higher risk for poor postpartum follow-up and those at risk for persistent hypertension.