Table 4 Diagnostic test properties of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association BP categories for adverse pregnancy outcomesa.

From: Do lower antenatal blood pressure cut-offs in pregnant women with obesity identify those at greater risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes? A secondary analysis of data from the UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT)

Outcomes and BP thresholds

Sensitivity (95% CI)

Specificity (95% CI)

Positive LR (95% CI)

Negative LR (95% CI)

Preterm Birth

 ‘Elevated BP’

0.88 (0.80, 0.94)

0.10 (0.09, 0.12)

0.98 (0.91, 1.06)

1.17 (0.67, 2.04)

 ‘Stage 1 HTN’

0.74 (0.64, 0.82)

0.27 (0.24, 0.29)

1.01 (0.89, 1.14)

0.98 (0.70, 1.38)

 ‘Non-severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.34 (0.25, 0.45)

0.68 (0.65, 0.70)

1.06 (0.80, 1.41)

0.97 (0.84, 1.12)

 ‘Severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.09 (0.04, 0.17)

0.96 (0.95, 0.97)

2.39 (1.22, 4.70)

0.95 (0.89, 1.01)

Postpartum haemorrhage

 ‘Elevated BP’

0.92 (0.88, 0.96)

0.10 (0.09, 0.12)

1.03 (0.99, 1.08)

0.72 (0.43, 1.2)

 ‘Stage 1 HTN’

0.81 (0.75, 0.87)

0.27 (0.25, 0.30)

1.12 (1.04, 1.21)

0.68 (0.50, 0.92)

 ‘Non-severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.42 (0.35, 0.49)

0.69 (0.66, 0.71)

1.35 (1.12, 1.61)

0.84 (0.75, 0.95)

 ‘Severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.08 (0.05, 0.13)

0.96 (0.95, 0.97)

2.26 (1.31, 3.92)

0.95 (0.91, 0.99)

Small-for-gestational age

 ‘Elevated BP’

0.90 (0.83, 0.96)

0.11 (0.09, 0.12)

1.01 (0.94, 1.08)

0.91 (0.48, 1.72)

 ‘Stage 1 HTN’

0.77 (0.67, 0.85)

0.27 (0.25, 0.29)

1.05 (0.93, 1.18)

0.87 (0.60, 1.27)

 ‘Non-severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.40 (0.30, 0.51)

0.68 (0.66, 0.70)

1.27 (0.98, 1.64)

0.88 (0.74, 1.04)

 ‘Severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.10 (0.04, 0.17)

0.96 (0.95, 0.97)

2.52 (1.29, 4.95)

0.94 (0.88, 1.00)

NICU admission

 ‘Elevated BP’

0.88 (0.81, 0.93)

0.10 (0.09, 0.12)

0.99 (0.92, 1.05)

1.13 (0.67, 1.89)

 ‘Stage 1 HTN’

0.75 (0.66, 0.82)

0.27 (0.25, 0.29)

1.03 (0.92, 1.14)

0.93 (0.67, 1.28)

 ‘Non-severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.42 (0.33, 0.51)

0.68 (0.66, 0.71)

1.32 (1.05, 1.65)

0.85 (0.73, 1.00)

 ‘Severe ‘Stage 2 HTN’

0.07 (0.03, 0.14)

0.96 (0.95, 0.97)

1.94 (0.98, 3.84)

0.96 (0.91, 1.01)

  1. BP blood pressure, CI confidence interval, −LR negative likelihood ratio, +LR positive likelihood ratio, NICU neonatal intensive care unit, PPH postpartum haemorrhage, SGA small-for-gestational age.
  2. aAs assessed at outpatient antenatal visits or medical assessment unit visits prior to the delivery admission. BP was categorised according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association criteria as follows: ‘Normal BP’ (sBP < 120 mmHg and dBP < 80 mmHg), ‘Elevated BP’ (sBP 120–129 mmHg but dBP < 80 mmHg), ‘Stage 1 hypertension’ (sBP 130–139 mmHg and/or dBP 80–89 mmHg), and ‘Stage 2 hypertension’ (sBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or dBP ≥ 90 mmHg).
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