Long term risks of pre-eclampsia

Women with pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are four times more likely to have heart failure in later life according to a new study.  The same research also indicated a two-fold increase in the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and death due to cardiovascular disease in later life.

The results, published this month, come from the analysis of 22 studies and more than 6.5 million women and the authors are now appealing for better advice to be given to women about the increased risks, and more information on the actions that can be taken to avoid future ill-health.

Pensee Wu, lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Keele University, noted that the study showed the risk was highest during the first 10 years after a pregnancy affected by pre-eclampsia:  “It is important that women are regularly monitored during this period for cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. The risks begins to increase for coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke within one year after giving birth, but it is highest between one to ten years after giving birth.”

 
For more on this story see RCM article here