Key result
Postpartum diuretics reduce persistent hypertension and lower maternal morbidity in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Why the study?
Effective control for postpartum hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is needed, but prior studies evaluating postpartum diuretics were limited by small samples and high risk of bias.
Do postpartum diuretics improve blood pressure and reduce maternal morbidity in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy?
Do postpartum diuretics improve blood pressure and reduce maternal morbidity in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy?
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of postpartum diuretics for managing persistent hypertension in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
(Obstet Gynecol 2025;146:500-514. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006032. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Oct 1;146(4):500-514. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006032.) An estimated 15% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), with ∼20% of these patients having either persistent or de novo hypertension postpartum. Persistent postpartum hypertension is associated with longer hospital stays and increased readmission rates, morbidity, and mortality. Effective control for postpartum HDP is needed, and one possibility is the administration of diuretics to combat an increase in blood pressure during the first week postpartum. Previous studies in this area have been limited by small samples and high risk of bias. This study was a systematic review designed to assess the evidence surrounding the use of diuretics in reducing persistent postpartum hypertension in patients with HDP, focusing specifically on the effect of diuretics on blood pressure and the association of diuretic use with maternal morbidity.
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Roberts et al. (2026) studied this question. Postpartum diuretics reduce persistent hypertension in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, improving blood pressure control and lowering maternal morbidity.
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