Quality standard

Quality statement 3: Antenatal blood pressure targets

Quality statement 3: Antenatal blood pressure targets

Quality statement

Pregnant women taking antihypertensive medication have a blood pressure target of 135/85 mmHg or less.

Rationale

Antihypertensive treatment should aim to lower blood pressure from the moderate or severe range, while avoiding excessive reductions that may affect fetal growth.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Structure

Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that pregnant women taking antihypertensive medication have a blood pressure target of 135/85 mmHg or less.

Data source: Local data collection.

Outcome

Rate of pregnant women with hypertension who maintain their target blood pressure throughout their pregnancy.

Data source: Local data collection.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers ensure that there are local arrangements to set target blood pressure for pregnant women taking antihypertensive medication to 135/85 mmHg or less, and to maintain this blood pressure throughout their pregnancy.

Healthcare professionals set target blood pressure for pregnant women taking antihypertensive medication to 135/85 mmHg or less, and ensure that this blood pressure is maintained throughout pregnancy.

Commissioners ensure they commission services that set target blood pressure for pregnant women taking antihypertensive medication to 135/85 mmHg or less, and ensure that this blood pressure is maintained throughout pregnancy.

Pregnant women taking medication for hypertension (high blood pressure) have a blood pressure target of 135/85 mmHg or less.

Source guidance

Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG133 (2019), recommendations 1.3.7 to 1.3.9, 1.4.3 and 1.5.5