and primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women who experience complications as they transition out of pregnancy and postpartum care into primary care.

The study also recommended continued follow-up to monitor cardiovascular disease risk for such women throughout their life.

The six pregnancy-related complications, according to a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at the Bridge Clinic Fertility Centre, Dr. Morenikeji Olaniyi, are common presentations in women of childbearing age; noting, however, that hypertension calls for concern as it can act as a trigger for others conditions.

“Hypertension is more common than diabetes, because affected persons progress to having the condition later on in life and develop cardiovascular disease,” she added; noting that some women usually develop high blood pressure during their first pregnancy but that it usually disappears after childbirth.

She noted that most women that develop pregnancy-induced hypertension have a strong family history of the disease, and that it will resurface as they advance in age.

“Some women have pregestational diabetes, that is before getting pregnant, and while some get better, others progress to still have the condition after childbirth.

“Some, for every pregnancy, will develop hypertension. But then, it will be better managed because the doctor knows their history already, and will prepare them well ahead. Unlike those having it for the first time, it might not be too good, as it will be a struggling type of treatment.

“Those that have a strong family history of the condition often don’t get out of it. It progresses to full blown hypertension and diabetes later in life, and they later suffer cardiovascular complication, stroke and others,” Dr. Olaniyi said.

She said that preconception care remains the only preventive measure against complications.

Also, a General Practitioner, Dr. Edward Chukwurah, said the study is a true reflection of medical facts, which have been observed in some women that have gone past childbearing age.

He noted that pregnant women can develop pregnancy-induced hypertension, which raises risk for other conditions highlighted in the study.

“In my over 30-year practice, I have seen several women become heavily dependent on blood pressure medications. Usually, after childbirth, the blood pressure reduces, only for the affected women to end up with cardiovascular problems for the rest of their lives, even after they have stopped having children,” Dr. Chukwurah said.

He warned that gestational diabetes is also a key indicator for cardiovascular disease, adding that quite a number of pregnant women develop the condition.

“Of late, more pregnant women and the elderly have been presenting with diabetes and high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause placental abruption – a situation whereby the placenta detaches from the wall of the womb, causing severe pain and bleeding.

“The main culprit here is high blood pressure as it raises the risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational age. Pregnant women are placed on blood pressure medication that is suitable for them, though some of the drugs can make a baby small,” Chukwurah explained.

In order to reduce the risk of having any of the conditions, the physician advised pregnant women to register early for antenatal, saying, “This would help to detect any of these conditions and, if need be, be referred for specialist care and appropriate management.”

Speaking on the study, chair of the Scientific Statement Writing Committee and associate professor of medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, University of California, San Francisco, Nisha Parikh, said, “Adverse pregnancy outcomes are linked to women having hypertension, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol and cardiovascular disease events, including heart attack and stroke, long after their pregnancies.”

“Preventing or treating risk factors early can prevent cardiovascular disease. Therefore, adverse pregnancy outcomes can be a powerful window into cardiovascular disease prevention if women and their healthcare professionals harness the knowledge and use it for health improvement.”

Parikh noted that the comprehensive statement reviews the latest scientific literature on adverse pregnancy outcomes and CVD, and is specifically focused on health disparities, lifestyle and prevention recommendations.

He also said the statement reports the magnitude of risk related to several pregnancy complications.

“The evidence linking adverse pregnancy outcomes to later cardiovascular disease is consistent over many years and confirmed in nearly every study we examined.

“This statement should inform future prevention guidelines in terms of the important factors to consider for determining women’s risk for heart diseases and stroke,” Parikh said.

The study concluded that more studies examining the association of pregnancy complications and cardiovascular risk in Black, Hispanic and Asian women are needed because women who fall within these groups experience more adverse pregnancy outcomes, and have higher burdens of cardiovascular disease risk factors when compared with white women.

source: Punch