Heart Health 4 New Moms: A Randomized Trial in the First Year After Preeclampsia
PreeclampsiaGestational Hypertension6 morePreeclampsia causes devastating maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality with a high recurrence risk and a rapid, occult progression to cardiovascular disease after delivery. There is a critical need for effective interventions to reduce these risks. This is a pilot randomized controlled trial of a novel postpartum lifestyle intervention compared to women who take home blood pressure measurements and women with usual care who are overweight and obese in the first year after preeclampsia. The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will lead to improved weight loss and blood pressure in the first year postpartum, which has broad implications for future pregnancy and long-term cardiovascular health.
Assessment of Physical Exercise Using Stationary Bicycle for Pregnant Women With Risk for Preeclampsia...
Pre-eclampsiaHypertension3 moreIntroduction: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are an important issue in global public health. It is current the leading cause of maternal mortality in Brazil. Objective: To assess the effect of physical exercise using stationary bicycle through blood pressure and heart rate measurements, incidence of pre-eclampsia and quality of life survey in pregnant women with chronic high blood pressure, previous preeclampsia pregnancies or both factors associated comparing to a group with no intervention. Verify the type of births, maternal and perinatal outcomes in both groups. Methodology: This randomized clinical trial enrolled pregnant women presenting chronic hih blood pressure, previous pre-eclampsia experience or both. Women from 12 to 20 gestational weeks were selected from the prenatal outpatient clinic and randomly allocated to the study or non-interventional group. Women at the study group performed physical exercise using stationary bicycle (horizontal bench model) during 20 minutes, once a week. The heart rate was maintained at 20% above resting heart rate and up to 140 bpm. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements were evaluated before and after exercise. The non-intervention group followed regular prenatal routine with weekly returns for heart rate and blood pressure measurements. Both groups fulfilled the quality of life survey (SF-36 questionnaire) at three times: between 12 and 20 weeks; 28 and 32 weeks and 36 and 41 weeks of gestation. After that data of parturition will be analyzed to compare the incidence of pre-eclampsia, types of birth, maternal and perinatal outcomes.
A Comparison of Compliance Between Clonidine Patch and Methyldopa for the Treatment of Chronic Hypertension...
HypertensionHigh blood pressure (BP) before pregnancy is called chronic hypertension (CHTN), and is associated with an increased risk of development of pregnancy related high BP called preeclampsia, preterm delivery, decreased growth of the fetus, fetal death, premature separation of the placenta from the uterus resulting in damage to the fetus and cesarean delivery. Longer duration and severity of CHTN in pregnancy leads to worse outcomes for the mother and the fetus. Treatment of mild CHTN in pregnancy does not improve these outcomes, and therefore, medications to lower BP are used for moderate to severe hypertension. To date the literature on the medications used in pregnancy is extremely limited. Methyldopa is used as a first choice medicine for CHTN in pregnancy. It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) by relaxation of the blood vessels leading to a decrease in BP. It does not decrease the blood flow to the uterus, placenta, or the fetus (4). Methyldopa is a weak antihypertensive medicine given three or four times a day and frequently needs changes in the dose or may require an additional medication to control BP. This may lead to a greater chance of non compliance. Another option is Clonidine which is an effective antihypertensive treatment and is available in many forms (oral, parenteral, and transdermal.) It acts on the maternal CNS. Clonidine is not associated with teratogenic or neonatal side effects. Transdermal clonidine (catapres-TTS®) is a preparation of clonidine hydrochloride that can be released and absorbed transdermally over a 7-day period. The study will determine differences in compliance between the two antihypertensive regimens- oral methyldopa and Catapres-TTS, comparisons of patient tolerability, compliance and adequacy of BP control, as well as provide information on an alternate option for BP control.
Lasix for the Prevention of De Novo Postpartum Hypertension
Postpartum Pregnancy-Induced HypertensionPostpartum Preeclampsia3 morePrimary objective: To evaluate whether oral furosemide can help prevent de novo postpartum hypertension (new-onset high blood pressure after delivery) by reducing blood pressure after delivery in high-risk women. Secondary objectives: To evaluate whether oral furosemide administered to high-risk women after delivery can reduce the frequency of postpartum hypertensive episodes, the need for antihypertensive therapy, the risk of postpartum preeclampsia, and the incidence of severe maternal morbidity.
Postpartum Hypertension: Remote Patient Monitoring
HypertensionPregnancy-InducedThe purpose of this study is to see if Honeywell Genesis Android Touch Bluetooth System (mobile health) can improve patient satisfaction and quality of care provided to women experiencing complications due to high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Prenatal Mindfulness & Hypertension Study
Hypertension in PregnancyHypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the greatest causes of death to mothers and babies. These disorders affect 1 out of every 10 pregnancies, the rate is increasing in the United States, and rate of recurrence is as high as 50%. Treatments to prevent hypertensive disorders of pregnancy from happening in future pregnancies are limited. There are currently no effective interventions to prevent hypertension recurrence in pregnancy that do not involve medications. Mindfulness interventions hold great potential as a medication-free approach to prevent the recurrence of hypertension in pregnant women with histories of hypertensive disorders. However, traditional group-based mindfulness training interventions, requiring 2.5 hours of class attendance for 8 weeks plus a full-day retreat, are very difficult for pregnant women with medical conditions to attend. The goal of the current study is to determine if phone-delivered mindfulness training is an acceptable intervention among pregnant women with histories of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. 20 pregnant women with histories of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will be randomly picked to participate in an 8-week phone-delivered mindfulness training intervention (N=10) or usual care (N=10). All women will undergo blood pressure monitoring before and after the intervention. The investigators predict that phone-delivered mindfulness training will reduce risk for hypertension recurrence.
Effects of Exercise During Pregnancy on Maternal and Child Health: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Gestational HypertensionPrematurity3 moreThe Pamela Study is a clinical trial carried out during pregnancy to assess the potential effects of physical activity during pregnancy among previously inactive women. The trial is nested into a birth cohort of more than 4000 dyads (mother-child) and took place in Pelotas, Brazil.
Treatment Targets for Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy
Pregnancy ToxemiaHypertension1 moreThis project is a clinical study of women with high blood pressure who become pregnant. Preeclampsia is a syndrome developing at the end of a pregnancy characterized by an abrupt rise in blood pressure (BP), blood clotting and kidney dysfunction, and may result in premature delivery, infant death, and maternal bleeding, kidney failure and stroke. The goal is to determine whether lowering blood pressure to a normal pressure of 120/80 is associated with a lower incidence of preeclampsia. Women who are completely healthy have a 5% chance of developing preeclampsia, however women with preexisting high blood pressure have a 25% chance of this complication. Several studies, including our own suggest that higher blood pressure early in pregnancy (<20 weeks) is associated with an even higher risk of preeclampsia. Currently we, the researchers at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, do not know how to treat women with high blood pressure and/or kidney disease during pregnancy. Keeping the BP in the normal range may be beneficial to the mother. On the other hand, we are not sure if the blood pressure lowering or the medications may or may not have adverse effects for the baby. Different trials to answer this question have been performed with no clear conclusions. Because of these uncertainties, we propose to compare two different strategies for treating women with high BP who become pregnant. We will treat half the women with BP medications to normalize BP (120-130/80 mm Hg) (experimental group) and the other half with the goal of keeping the BP slightly higher (140-150/90-100 mm Hg)(standard therapy group). We will determine which approach results in healthier pregnancies, and lower incidence of preeclampsia. Reducing the incidence of preeclampsia would be of significant benefit to both mothers and babies.
App-based Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring
Gestational HypertensionPreeclampsia1 moreRemote postpartum blood pressure monitoring program with text messages has been shown to increase adherence to recommended postpartum blood pressure checks among those with hypertension at discharge from birth hospitalization, but these programs require medically trained professionals to respond to each individual text message. A bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff that synchs automatically a smartphone application that leverages Artificial Intelligence to provide tailored recommendations based on recorded blood pressure measurements--and can also provide on-demand education on hypertension--may be less costly way to provide similar support.
Low Dose Calcium to Prevent Preeclampsia
Pre-EclampsiaHypertension2 moreThe purpose of this study is to assess, in pregnant women with calcium-poor diets, what is the effectiveness of low-dose (500 mg/day) calcium supplements associated with an educational intervention, compared to the educational intervention alone, in the prevention of preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.