Pregnancy complications could indicate heart disease risk: McGill study
A McGill University study suggests that pregnancy complications can serve as early indicators for heart disease risk in women. Researchers are advocating for the integration of these findings into routine postpartum care to improve long-term cardiovascular health.
Why it matters
This research could lead to more personalized preventative healthcare for women, addressing a gap in existing cardiovascular risk assessment tools.
A new study out of McGill University has found that pregnancy complications could identify heart disease risk in women earlier in life.
The study reportedly used data from over 260,000 women in the UK aged 15 to 45 who had given birth, and researchers then developed and validated a prediction model to estimate future heart disease risk. Following this, the women were then monitored for the four years after giving birth.
Several factors were reportedly looked at to help predict risk, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, PCOS, depression, thyroid disorders, oral contraceptive use and social deprivation, and researchers were able to learn that women, particularly younger women often considered low risk, may face a higher risk of heart disease earlier than previously recognized.
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