Abstract P165: Hypertension, Dietary And Exercise Habits In Pregnancy - A Case Control Study

Background: Hypertension (HTN) in pregnancy is increasing in the United States and is implicated in nearly 40% of maternal deaths. While national guidelines recommend the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet for all women with HTN, adherence to DASH dietary habits in pregnant women with HTN is unknown. Objective: We determined the differences in diet and exercise habits in pregnant women with HTN compared to pregnant women with normal blood pressure (BP). Methods: Pregnant women with HTN and normal BP were recruited at 24-32 weeks gestation. HTN was defined by a provider diagnosis prior to 20 weeks gestation or BP ≥140/90 mm Hg at the time of recruitment. The normal BP group had systolic BP <120 mm Hg. Dietary intake was characterized using the Block Sodium and Fruit-Vegetable-Fiber surveys. The Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to determine the type, duration, and intensity of physical activity. Differences across hypertension status were compared using Chi-square Student's t-tests. Results: The mean age of the HTN group was 33.8 years and 31.3% were Black, while the mean age of the normal BP group was 30.4 years and 6.5% were Black. The HTN group reported lower sodium intake (HTN = 2,366 mg/day, normal BP = 3,221 mg/day; p < 0.01). However, the HTN and normal BP groups reported similar fruit, vegetable, fiber, magnesium, and potassium intake (Table). There were no significant differences in light, moderate, or vigorous activity between groups. Conclusions: While pregnant women with HTN reported lower sodium intake, they consumed similar amounts of fruit, vegetable, fiber, magnesium, and potassium compared to women with normal BP. Future work should identify barriers to healthy lifestyle habits to improve the implementation of evidence-based dietary strategies for BP control in pregnant women.