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Poster Session 1

Category: Hypertension

Poster Session 1

(130) Maternal hypoalbuminemia is associated with increased postpartum edema among patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

Anna K. Daoud, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

Resident
New York Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York, United States

Coauthor(s)

Julia Rubin, BS

Medical Student
Weill Cornell Medical College
Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, United States
MG

Mirely Garcia

Research Assistant
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, United States
ES

Ester Sanchez, RN

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, United States
KV

Kristin M. Voegtline, PhD

Assistant Professor
NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York, United States
Moeun Son, MD, MSCI (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
Weill Cornell Medical College
New York, New York, United States

Objective:
Serum albumin is physiologically decreased during pregnancy but can further decrease in those with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). We aimed to assess if hypoalbuminemia at delivery admission in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is associated with increased postpartum edema and diuretic use.

Study Design:
This is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant persons with singleton gestations diagnosed with HDP who delivered at term at two hospitals from 2020 to 2024. Patients with chronic hypertension, kidney or liver disease, and those missing albumin values were excluded. Eligible individuals were identified via a research database but data were manually extracted from the medical record. Hypoalbuminemia was defined as < =2.3 g/dL based on prior literature. Study outcomes included postpartum peripheral, pulmonary, and cerebral edema, and diuretic use. Patients with low serum albumin were compared to those with values >2.3 g/dL using Fisher’s exact and Chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Logistic regression was performed.

Results:
Baseline characteristics of 572 included patients are shown in Table 1. Patients with hypoalbuminemia were more likely to have preeclampsia with severe features (OR 3.91 95% CI 2.58-5.94), postpartum peripheral edema documented (OR 1.44 95% CI 1.01-2.07), and be discharged on oral diuretics postpartum (OR 5.47 95% CI 3.77-7.93) (Table 2). After adjusting for delivery mode, hypoalbuminemia remained significantly associated with being discharged home with diuretics (p < .001), but not peripheral edema. Those who had a cesarean section were more likely to be discharged on diuretics (OR 1.92 95% CI 1.31-2.84) and have peripheral edema (OR 2.29 95% CI 1.57-3.34).

Conclusion:
Patients with HDP and severe hypoalbuminemia are more likely to have documented postpartum peripheral edema and diuretic use. Albumin levels are readily available in labs collected for patients with HDP. In those with severe hypoalbuminemia, one can consider earlier diuretic use to prevent postpartum edema, but prospective data are needed.