Prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, and risk of hypertensive pregnancy among Latina women

OBJECTIVE: Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain have been associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, but previous studies have included few Latinas, a group at increased risk. STUDY DESIGN: We examined these associations in the Latina Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Study, a prospective cohort of 1231 women conducted from 2000 to 2004. RESULTS: In multivariable analysis, obese women (BMI > 29.0 kg/m(2)) had 2.5 times the risk of hypertensive pregnancy (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.8) and 2.7 times the risk of preeclampsia (95% CI, 1.2-5.8), compared with women whose BMI was 19.8 to 26.0 kg/m(2). Women with excessive gestational weight gain had a 3-fold increased risk of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (95% CI, 1.1-7.2) and a 4-fold risk of preeclampsia (95% CI, 1.2-14.5), compared with women achieving weight gain guidelines. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest prepregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain are associated with hypertension in pregnancy in a Latina population and could be potentially modifiable risk factors.