Preeclampsia-associated cardiovascular risk factors 6 months and 2 years after pregnancy
There is an increased cardiovascular risk after a pregnant woman has preeclampsia. Previous research found that there are signs of early cardiovascular aging when a woman is six months postpartum. This study looked at women when they were six months postpartum and again two years postpartum to look at their cardiovascular measures and ongoing risk factors.
This study found that women who had preeclampsia had higher blood pressure and were more likely to have signs of future cardiovascular problems compared to women who didn't have preeclampsia during pregnancy. The women who had preeclampsia also had a higher body mass index and insulin resistance, which also increased their future cardiovascular risk.
Take Home Message: The study suggests that doctors should keep a close eye on these women even after their pregnancy is over to help prevent cardiovascular diseases and other complications. Women who experienced preeclampsia can talk to their doctors about steps they can take to reduce their cardiovascular risks.
Link: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21890
Citation: Henry, A., Mangos, G., Roberts, L. M., Brown, M. A., Pettit, F., O’Sullivan, A. J., Crowley, R., Youssef, G., & Davis, G. K. (2024). Preeclampsia-associated cardiovascular risk factors 6 months and 2 years after pregnancy: The P4 study. Hypertension, 81(4), 851–860. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21890
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