What is the primary risk factor for gestational hypertension?

The primary risk factor for gestational hypertension is first-time pregnancy, or primiparity. This is significant because women who are pregnant for the first time have a higher incidence of developing gestational hypertension compared to those who have had children before. The exact mechanisms are not completely understood, but it is believed that the body might respond differently to the physiological changes of pregnancy in women who have not previously experienced these changes.

While other factors such as multiple pregnancies, high maternal age, and obesity can contribute to the risk of developing gestational hypertension, primiparity stands out as a key risk factor due to the unique physiological demands and changes that a first-time mother experiences. It's important to recognize that these other factors may also have a compound effect in conjunction with primiparity, but the prevalent association correlates most strongly with first-time pregnancies.