We examined the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, and their association with cardiovascular risk factors in and after pregnancy. We showed that women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy often have cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension and a disadvantageous lipid profile, within the first nine years after pregnancy. From the age of 45 years onwards they also have a higher risk of coronary artery calcification and plaque formation compared to women without a history of preeclampsia. Cardiovascular risk factors can be assembled in one score which is the cardiovascular health score. A higher, and thus healthier, cardiovascular health score is associated with a lower risk of future cardiovascular disease. We showed that a lower cardiovascular health score in early pregnancy is associated with a lower cardiovascular health score after pregnancy and with a greater carotid intima-media thickness. A measure of subclinical vascular disease. These results were strongest in women with a previous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Women with a previous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy have a higher risk of having cardiovascular risk factors after pregnancy than women with a previous normotensive pregnancy. Therefore, they should be offered cardiovascular follow-up from an early age onwards. The cardiovascular health score in early pregnancy might be a good start to improve cardiovascular risk factors in these young women.

, ,
E.A.P. Steegers (Eric) , J.E. Roeters van Lennep (Jeanine) , S. Schalekamp-Timmermans (Sarah)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/114960
Department of General Practice

Benschop, L. (2019, February 6). Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy and Beyond. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/114960