The rate of gestational hypertension, or high blood pressure diagnosed during pregnancy, rose in all 50 states and the District of Columbia between 2016 and 2024, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The increase in gestational hypertension ranged from a 21 percent jump in Idaho to a 144 percent surge in Hawaii, according to the study, published on July 29.
In eight states, the rate increased by 100 percent or more—Hawaii, California, Colorado, Wyoming, Arkansas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, the gestational hypertension rate rose by 73 percent during the eight-year period.
Meanwhile, the rate of gestational hypertension was 10.4 percent nationwide in 2024, up from 6 percent in 2016. This means that one in ten pregnant women in the United States had gestational hypertension in 2024.
The rate of gestational hypertension as of 2024 was below 9 percent in the District of Columbia and in nine states—New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Utah, Nevada, New York, Idaho, Tennessee, and New Mexico.
In eight states, the rate was 13 percent or higher—Minnesota, Oregon, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Ohio, Alabama, Alaska, and Louisiana.
Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are among the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States, according to the study. For mothers, such disorders can result in organ damage or failure and cardiovascular disease later in life. For the child, adverse effects include stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth.
Mothers may also suffer from stroke, preeclampsia, or eclampsia, according to a December 2024 post by the CDC. Preeclampsia is a condition in which a woman who previously had normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with protein found in the urine, or the woman faces other problems. Eclampsia is a medical emergency in which a pregnant woman with preeclampsia starts having seizures that have no other cause.
The study is based on an analysis of all births registered in the United States between 2016 and 2024.
When the mother’s blood pressure rises to high levels, it becomes harder for the baby in the womb to get enough oxygen and nutrients to grow. This can lead to the mother giving birth earlier than expected.
The recent CDC study gave information on gestational hypertension based on various metrics such as race and age of the women.
In terms of age, the rate was lower for women younger than 20 years and for women aged 30-34 in 2024. The highest rate was among women aged 40 and above.
A June 2025 CDC report found that the average age of first-time mothers in the country rose to 27.5 years in 2023, up from 26.6 years in 2016. The percentage of first births to mothers under 20 years of age declined by 26 percent, while births to mothers aged 35 and above rose by 25 percent.
Race-wise, the lowest gestational hypertension rate in 2024 was seen among Asian non-Hispanic mothers at 7.1 percent, and the highest among American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanic mothers at 13.2 percent.
According to a March 2025 update from the Office on Women’s Health, normal blood pressure during pregnancy is at 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or lower.
If the readings are 140/90 mm Hg or higher on two separate occasions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the blood pressure would be considered high.
Some of the risk factors for having high blood pressure during pregnancy include diabetes, high body weight or obesity, age over 35, first-time pregnancy, autoimmune disorder, ten or more years in between two pregnancies, a history of blood clots, and a family history of preeclampsia.
In a February 2025 post, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) said that gestational hypertension can cause several complications for women, including extra stress on the kidneys and heart. As for preeclampsia, it poses more serious complications, such as liver dysfunction and red blood cell ruptures.
The best method to prevent gestational hypertension during pregnancy is to manage risk factors that contribute to the condition, the post said. This involves eating a healthy diet and managing health issues such as diabetes and kidney disease.
