Recent research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention│Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024 highlights the importance of post-pregnancy heart health in mitigating the risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Led by Dr. Frank Qian from Boston Medical Center, the study underscores the potential of lifestyle interventions in improving long-term cardiovascular outcomes for this population.
Background and Study Details:
Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including placental abruption, gestational diabetes, pre-term birth, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, are associated with an increased risk of developing CVD later in life. To investigate the impact of post-pregnancy heart health on CVD risk, researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, encompassing 2,263 women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes and 107,260 women without such complications.
Findings:
The study revealed a significant association between cardiovascular health scores, measured by Life’s Essential 8 criteria, and the development of CVD in women with and without a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Notably:
Women with better cardiovascular health measures post-pregnancy had a 57% lower risk of developing CVD compared to those with poorer scores.
Those who experienced pregnancy complications and maintained poor cardiovascular health scores faced a 148% increase in CVD risk.
Achieving or maintaining high heart health post-pregnancy equated to a similar CVD risk as women without adverse pregnancy outcomes and good cardiovascular health.
Women with intermediate and low Life’s Essential 8 scores had elevated CVD risk regardless of pregnancy history.
Implications:
Dr. Qian emphasized the importance of identifying high-risk women and facilitating access to lifestyle interventions to improve cardiovascular health post-pregnancy. Integrating Life’s Essential 8 into clinical practice could be instrumental in reducing heart disease risk among women, both with and without adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Limitations and Future Directions:
While the study provides valuable insights, it is observational, and further research is warranted to establish causality. Additionally, the lack of racial diversity in the study population underscores the need for future investigations in more diverse cohorts to generalize findings across populations.
Conclusion:
The study underscores the significance of post-pregnancy heart health in reducing the long-term risk of CVD among women with adverse pregnancy outcomes. By prioritizing lifestyle interventions and optimizing cardiovascular health post-pregnancy, healthcare providers can play a pivotal role in enhancing heart health and reducing the burden of CVD in this population.
