Racial and ethnic differences in high blood pressure during pregnancy

Investigating Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy in the US

['FUNDING_R21'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11193859

This project looks at why rates and outcomes of high blood pressure in pregnancy are worse for Black people than for other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R21']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorDUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11193859 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

From your perspective, researchers will build a computer model using large U.S. datasets such as birth records and health data to follow how high blood pressure starts and progresses during pregnancy. The model will include social and medical factors like income, access to care, and prior health conditions to compare patterns across racial and ethnic groups. The team will test hypothetical changes—for example, better access to care or preventive measures—to see which approaches might lower overall rates and shrink racial gaps. Results will be used to guide policies and future interventions aimed at reducing severe pregnancy complications.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: The focus is on pregnant people in the U.S., especially Non-Hispanic Black individuals and those with chronic hypertension or a history of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, who live outside the United States, or whose healthcare is unrelated to pregnancy high blood pressure are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific policies or prevention strategies that reduce pregnancy high blood pressure and narrow racial disparities in severe maternal outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Related epidemiologic and modeling work has helped identify risk patterns for pregnancy high blood pressure, but combining causal pathway modeling with a focus on racial disparities and policy testing is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

DURHAM, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.