Message at the opening ceremonyof the 22nd World Congress of International Society for the Study ofHypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP 2021)

September 15, 2021

Distinguished guests and participants,

It is a great pleasure for me to be with you today online, at the opening
ceremony of the 22nd International Society for the Study of Hypertension inPregnancy Congress 2021, with official support from the Japan Society for
the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. I am grateful for this opportunity tobe together with you, sharing our desire to improve the health of women withhypertensive disorders of pregnancy. I would like to express my sincere
appreciation to those who have been making efforts to carry out thisCongress.

Among hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, pre-eclampsia is one of theleading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. According to ISSHP, preeclampsia causes over 500,000 fetal and neonatal deaths and over 70,000
maternal deaths every year. Pre-eclampsia seriously affects various organsof pregnant women and can cause early termination of pregnancy byrestricting fetal development and the placental function. With the objective1

of resolving these difficulties, ISSHP has been making great contributions toaddressing challenges in the prevention and treatment of problems related to
hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, by stimulating research, disseminating
appropriate information, and promoting education. I would like to express
my deep respect to all of you who are devoted to this area, listening topatients and working to reduce their difficulties.

Early identification of high-risk pregnant women can lead to appropriate
countermeasures and increase the chances of reducing maternal healthdisorders. In the case of Japan, every pregnant woman receives a Maternaland Child Health Handbook, and indicators of her health, including bloodpressure and urine protein, are recorded periodically by medical experts.
These figures are useful for the early detection of pre-eclampsia. If problems
are found in the regular health checkups for pregnant women, measures suchas medical guidance and treatment by a doctor, lifestyle guidance by a
midwife, and/or dietary guidance by a registered dietitian are provided. Afterthe birth of the baby, the baby’s health information is recorded in theMaternal and Child Health Handbook, facilitating a continuum of care. I am
grateful for the increase in the number of pregnant women around the world
who benefit from these measures, and strongly feel that further reductions in
the problems caused by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can be achieved
through the activities of various professionals, as well as the recognition ofappropriate actions by pregnant women and their families.

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I understand that ISSHP’s programs include a session on the new guideline,
which reflects the latest developments, such as advances in predicting andpreventing pre-eclampsia. I sincerely hope that the Congress will offer an
excellent opportunity for participants to exchange information and to discussboth challenges and future prospects, raising awareness of pre-eclampsia, sothat all pregnant women will be able to feel more at ease in nurturing
precious lives, and giving birth to the babies who will build our future.
Thank you very much.

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