Conclusions
Compared to normotensive pregnancies, pregnancies complicated by chronic
hypertension are associated with increased risk for perinatal mortality,
including stillbirth and neonatal death. A large driver of this risk was
preterm delivery, but there was also a substantial increased risk of
perinatal mortality at term and late term gestations. The results of
this study suggest the best strategies to reduce the risk of perinatal
mortality include planned, early term deliveries and targeting
modifiable risk factors for chronic hypertension, such as advanced
maternal age and obesity, that may impact the prevalence of chronic
hypertension.