HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY IN SOUTHWESTERN NAVAJO INDIANS

Background: The Navajos are the largest Native American tribe. They, l ike other Native Americans, appear to be in an ''epidemiologic transit ion'' and are accordingly experiencing increased rates of hypertension , diabetes, and obesity.Methods: A retrospective chart review of all p regnancies in 1991 at the Crownpoint Indian Health Service Facility in Crownpoint, NM, was conducted to determine the prevalence of hyperten sive disorders of pregnancy in this Navajo population. Results: Sevent y-five (12.6%) of 594 pregnancies were associated with a hypertensive disorder. There were 18 individuals who developed gestational hyperten sion and 10 individuals with chronic hypertension that persisted durin g pregnancy. There were 46 women (7.7%) who developed preeclampsia and one woman (0.3%) who developed eclampsia. Eight women (1.4%) with chr onic hypertension developed superimposed preeclampsia during pregnancy . Thus, 12.3% of these pregnancies in Navajo women were associated wit h the development of, or worsening, hypertension, and there was a prev alence of preeclampsia of 9.1%. Conclusion: The Navajos exhibit a high prevalence of pregnancy-related hypertension and preeclampsia.