Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide, which includes the 3%–5% of all pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is defined as new onset hypertension after 20 weeks’ gestation with evidence of maternal organ or uteroplacental dysfunction or proteinuria. Despite its prevalence, the risk factors that have been identified lack accuracy in predicting its onset and preventative therapies only moderately reduce a woman’s risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal morbidity and is associated with adverse foetal outcomes including intra-uterine growth restriction, preterm birth, placental abruption, foetal distress, and foetal death in utero. At present, national guidelines for foetal surveillance in preeclamptic pregnancies are inconsistent, due to a lack of evidence detailing the most appropriate assessment modalities as well as the timing and frequency at which assessments should be conducted. Current management of the foetus in preeclampsia involves timely delivery and prevention of adverse effects of prematurity with antenatal corticosteroids and/or magnesium sulphate depending on gestation. Alongside the risks to the foetus during pregnancy, there is also growing evidence that preeclampsia has long-term adverse effects on the offspring. In particular, preeclampsia has been associated with cardiovascular sequelae in the offspring including hypertension and altered vascular function.

Hypertension is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Currently, around a third of people with hypertension are undiagnosed, and of those diagnosed, around half are not taking antihypertensive medications. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that high blood pressure directly or indirectly causes deaths of at least nine million people globally every year. Purpose of Review In this review, we examine how emerging technologies might support improved detection and management of hypertension not only in the wider population but also within special population groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, and those with atrial fibrillation. Recent Findings There is an emerging trend to empower patients to support hypertension screening and diagnosis, and several studies have shown the benefit of tele-monitoring, particularly when coupled with co-intervention, in improving the management of hypertension. Summary Novel technology including smartphones and Bluetooth®-enabled tele-monitoring are evolving as key players in hypertension management and offer particular promise within pregnancy and developing countries. The most pressing need is for these new technologies to be properly assessed and clinically validated prior to widespread implementation in the general population.

Women with hypertensive pregnancies are 4× more likely to develop chronic hypertension. Previously, we showed a short period of blood pressure (BP) self-management following hypertensive pregnancy resulted in persistently lower BP after 6 months. We now report the impact on long-term BP control. Women who participated in the postpartum randomized controlled trial, SNAP-HT (Self-Management of Postnatal Hypertension; NCT02333240), were invited for 24-hour ambulatory and clinic BP measures. Height and weight were measured by calibrated scales and standardized tape measures, activity by 7-day wrist-worn accelerometer, and dietary factors assessed by questionnaire. Sixty-one of 70 eligible women were followed up 3.6±0.4 years after their original pregnancy. Twenty-four–hour diastolic BP was 7.0 mm Hg lower in those originally randomized to postpartum BP self-management instead of usual care. This difference remained significant after adjustment for either BP at the time of delivery (−7.4 mm Hg [95% CI, −10.7 to −4.2]; P <0.001) or pregnancy booking BP (−6.9 mm Hg [95% CI, −10.3 to −3.6]; P <0.001). Adjustment for current salt intake, age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, arm circumference, parity, alcohol intake, and physical activity had no effect on this difference. Reductions in diastolic BP at 6 months, following self-management of BP postpartum, are maintained 3.6 years later as measured by lower 24-hour diastolic BP. Interventions to optimize BP control during the puerperium in women with hypertensive pregnancies improve BP in the longer term, in a cohort at increased risk of developing chronic hypertension and major adverse cardiovascular events. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT02333240.