Pregnancy is a physiological condition associated with profound adaptive changes in the maternal hemodynamics and cardiovascular system. Autonomic nervous system plays a central role in this adaptation to the various needs of pregnancy. Several studies suggest that there are evidences of an age-related increase of cardiovascular sympathetic nervous system activity and a reduction of cardiac parasympathetic nervous system activity. Older age is associated with a gradual loss of vascular compliance, which subsequently leads to a higher afterload. Thus, increased sympathetic activity with maternal age, decreased baroreceptor sensitivity, and loss of vascular compliance all together contributes to increase in blood pressure. The study was conducted among 225 pregnant womenfrom 7 weeks of gestation and they were divided in different age groups (18–23 years, 24–29 years, 30–35 years). Older maternal age was associated with higher blood pressure having the mean systolic blood pressure 102.90 ± 11.95, 103.23 ± 12.58, 113.2 ± 12.53 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure 63.90 ± 9.20, 65.78, 71.33 and mmHg respectively in different age groups. Women aged 30–35 years had the highest blood pressure, but the steepest increase was observed in those aged 35 years. Thus, changes in sympatho-adrenal function with advancing age may have a number of important physiological and pathophysiological consequences for human health and may lead to gestational hypertensive disorders.

Keywords: Sympathetic nervous system; Vascular compliance; Gestational hypertensive disorders.