Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preeclampsia affects approximately 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies globally, with 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000 fetal deaths each year in the United States. (2) In the United States, Black women are at least three times more likely to die due to a pregnancy-related cause when compared to White women. (3) Preeclampsia and related cardiovascular and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, contributing to up to 15 percent of all maternal deaths, particularly in States with the highest-risk populations and in low resource settings. (4) Preeclampsia is a major contributor to preterm births, accounting for about 15 to 20 percent of all preterm deliveries in the United States. (5) The annual economic burden of preeclampsia in the United States exceeds $2 billion, including both direct health care costs to mother and baby, and indirect losses due to long-term health complications and lost productivity. (6) Risk factors for preeclampsia include maternal age, pre-existing diabetes, pregnancies with multiples, chronic hypertension, obesity, multiple pregnancies, and certain autoimmune diseases, all of which can increase the likelihood of developing this condition. (7) Women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy have an elevated risk of long-term cardiovascular complications, including chronic hypertension, heart disease and stroke.