Blood pressure medication use and postpartum hospital readmission among preeclampsia patients

Background Blood pressure medication is often prescribed to patients with preeclampsia. We are not aware of any study on readmission of those with preeclampsia to the hospital that considers blood pressure medication use or dose. Methods This was a retrospective study of 440 preeclampsia patients diagnosed during the antepartum, intrapartum, or immediate postpartum period prior to discharge from the hospital. The outcome was hospital readmission. One analysis compared blood pressure medication (oral labetalol and oral extended release nifedipine) use and nonuse. Another analysis compared low-dose and high-dose blood pressure medication use. Results Blood pressure medication use was not significantly associated with readmission (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.39, 1.63, p = 0.53). Low dose of blood pressure medication was significantly associated with increased odds for readmission (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.00, 5.25, p = 0.05). Conclusion We found that low dose of blood pressure medication was associated with increased odds for readmission within 6 weeks among those with preeclampsia. We recommend that clinicians balance the preference to reduce a blood pressure medication dose with the possible concern that too low a dose may place certain patients on track for hospital readmission after discharge.