Physician Update: AHA Special Edition
Read more articles from our most relevant research presented at the 2025 AHA Scientific Sessions.
Comprehensive Heart and Vascular Center
Managing Hypertension in Women Across the Life Course: Insights from #AHA25
By Rina Mauricio, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Blood pressure management took center stage at the 2025 AHA Scientific Sessions. I was honored to moderate the session “Managing Hypertension in Women: Pregnancy and Beyond,” which highlighted critical strategies for women.
Preeclampsia is known to increase a woman’s risk for future ASCVD, and this vulnerable patient population was the focus of several studies. Aspirin is recommended to decrease risk of preeclampsia and is standard of care prenatally for high-risk individuals in the U.S. One study showed lower rates of aspirin prescription for women at high risk for preeclampsia in Nigeria, underscoring the need for improved care delivery for this at-risk population in under-resourced settings. Social determinants of health also influence risk for postpartum hypertension, as highlighted in another study demonstrating a positive association between area deprivation index and risk for postpartum hypertension. While the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common overall, these studies spotlight disparities and the need for research to address these inequities.
While the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common overall, these studies spotlight disparities and the need for research to address these inequities.
Rina Mauricio, M.D.
Prior studies have demonstrated that women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk for developing chronic hypertension postpartum, and investigators have been devising innovative ways to care for this population. Virtual visits and text-based blood pressure monitoring programs have shown promise in delivering care to this at-risk patient population. One study, in particular, identified the successes of a 10-week text-based program.
While providers know to hold teratogenic medications in pregnant women, there is still limited data on which generally safe blood pressure medications should be preferentially used. One study showed improved outcomes with nifedipine compared to labetalol, but ultimately larger studies are needed. With the new blood pressure guidelines advocating for lower blood pressure goals, ongoing research on how to better manage hypertension in young women is needed, and it was encouraging to see the research advances on display at #AHA25.
