 Severity of hypertension in later life may be predicted by BP during the first 6 weeks postpartum. Several retrospective cohort studies and a meta-analysis have suggested that HDP are associated with an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease CVD in the mother. The 2011 American Heart Association guidelines for the prevention of CVD in women cite a history of HDP as a major risk factor for CVD, and advocate enquiring about pregnancy complications during the evaluation of CVD risk. 