What is the most common risk factor for pre-eclampsia?

Prepare for the Reproductive Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to confidently approach your exam.

The most common risk factor for pre-eclampsia is nulliparity, which refers to a woman who has never given birth to a viable offspring. This factor is significant because studies have shown that women who are experiencing their first pregnancy are at a higher risk for developing pre-eclampsia compared to those who have had previous pregnancies. This increased risk may be attributed to the fact that a woman's body is undergoing changes and adaptations to support the pregnancy for the first time, which can include alterations in blood pressure regulation and placentation.

Other risk factors, while important, do not carry the same level of prevalence as nulliparity. For instance, having a history of preeclampsia increases risk in subsequent pregnancies, but it applies only to women who have experienced preeclampsia previously. Similarly, while obesity and advanced maternal age are also acknowledged risk factors, they are not as universally present in the population of those who develop pre-eclampsia compared to the statistically significant correlation between nulliparity and new-onset pre-eclampsia. Thus, among all the listed options, nulliparity stands out as the most common risk factor for the condition.

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