Investigating the risk of hypertension shortly after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

Objective

Women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk for long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study assessed whether a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia is associated with an increased prevalence of maternal hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors shortly after delivery.

Study Design

Seventy-nine cases and 140 controls that had been enrolled in a prospective case-control study were evaluated in this planned follow-up analysis. The presence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were assessed by standardized questionnaire 6-13 months after delivery.

Results

Women with preeclampsia were significantly more likely than controls to have hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 13.92; 95% CI, 5.17-37.4; P < .001) after adjusting for confounders. Women with preterm preeclampsia also had an increased odds of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 18.31; 95% CI, 5.04-66.46; P < .001) compared with controls.

Conclusion

Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, may provide opportunities to identify women at risk for cardiovascular morbidity years before the onset of disease, allowing a window for prevention and intervention.

Key words: cardiovascular disease, hypertension, preeclampsia, pregnancy, pregnancy complications