Melbourne, FL – September 17 , 2024  – The Preeclampsia Foundation, in partnership with the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), announced today the launch of an updated version of the “My Health Beyond Pregnancy” patient worksheet. The free, downloadable tool gives patients who have experienced hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) resources on how to navigate their long-term heart risk in partnership with their healthcare providers, and to understand what tests, lifestyle changes, and follow-up care may be helpful to reduce that risk.

Research studies by organizations like the American Heart Association have established that women who have experienced HDPs are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure later in life, and two times more likely to experience stroke or heart disease than women who had normotensive pregnancies. Another recent study found that up to 80% of preeclampsia patients may go home from the hospital on blood pressure medications.

For the 5-8% of pregnant women who develop preeclampsia, this connection between pregnancy and long-term health may come as startling and unwelcome news.

“As the leading organization helping preeclampsia survivors be aware of their long-term risks, the most common question that we receive from our patient community is ‘Okay, I know about my long-term heart disease risk, but what do I do about it?’” said Preeclampsia Foundation CEO Eleni Tsigas. “Patients wanted tangible ways to discuss this issue with their care providers and decide on next steps to keep themselves healthy.”

The downloadable “My Health Beyond Pregnancy” tool provides these patients with an easy-to-print document where they can organize their care beyond pregnancy in one place: start the conversation with their provider, track important statistics like blood pressure, weight, birth outcomes, and blood work, and connect to online resources for help to decrease their overall risk.

The Foundation’s team worked in partnership with preeclampsia expert and researcher Dr. Ann Celi and her team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts. Dr. Celi and her team sought collaborative input from across the US to represent patient voices of color and indigenous backgrounds, updated the content and extensively tested the tool with birthing populations in both English and in Spanish. Background work at Ariadne Labs with project collaborator Dr. Chloe Zera on the theory of behavior change and the postpartum journey informed the updates. The team then provided the updated draft, which decreased the tool’s length and updated its content with new research on risk mitigation, to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine for their review and endorsement.

“Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can arise during and after pregnancy. It is imperative for patients to engage in dialogue with their healthcare providers regarding the factors that contribute to the risk, appropriate management strategies, and the enduring health implications. Through the employment of this tool, our objective is to assist patients in managing this critical medical issue during pregnancy, with an eye toward promoting their future well-being,” Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, SMFM President.

For more information about preeclampsia and long-term impact and to download the “My Health Beyond Pregnancy” tool, visit www.preeclampsia.org/BeyondPregnancy

About the Preeclampsia Foundation

The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000 to improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting, and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and finding a cure. We envision a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and their babies. For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org.

About SMFM

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), founded in 1977, is the medical professional society for obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk, complicated pregnancies. SMFM represents more than 7,000 members who care for high-risk pregnant people and provides education, promotes research, and engages in advocacy to reduce disparities and optimize the health of high-risk pregnant people and their families. SMFM and its members are dedicated to optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes and assuring medically appropriate treatment options are available to all patients.

About ISSHP

The International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP), founded in 1976, aims to stimulate research in the field of hypertension in pregnancy, disseminate the useful results of such research, and advance education in the field.

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The original version of this press release was edited on October 11 to include mention of the support of CVS Health Foundation and Ariadne Labs to the work of Dr. Ann Celi and team of Brigham and Women's Hospital.