Elevated Blood Pressure in Pregnancy and Long-Term Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes

This study looked at how elevated blood pressure during the third trimester of pregnancy affects cardiometabolic health 10-14 years after delivery. Cardiometabolic health is a group of conditions that impact the health of the heart and metabolism and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (heart disease) and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.

Researchers followed 4,692 pregnant individuals and measured their blood pressure in the third trimester (the median gestational age was 27.9 weeks). The median follow-up age was 11.6 years after giving birth. They found that higher blood pressure (above 120/80 mm Hg) during pregnancy was linked to a greater chance of developing long-term health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The frequency of adverse outcomes at 10-14 years postpartum (after delivery) was progressively higher among people who had a blood pressure greater than 120/80 in the early third trimester of their pregnancy. The higher the blood pressure during pregnancy, the more likely these issues were to appear later in life.

Take home: This study highlights that pregnancy health can have a significant impact on long-term health. It is crucial for anyone who experienced high blood pressure during pregnancy (gestational hypertension) to prioritize regular check-ups with a primary care physician. These appointments are important for monitoring and screening for cardiometabolic diseases, like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. To learn more about your long-term health and download our free “My Health Beyond Pregnancy” resource, visit https://www.preeclampsia.org/beyondpregnancy.

Link:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39147366/

Citation:JField C, Grobman WA, Wu J, Kuang A, Scholtens DM, Lowe WL, Shah NS, Khan SS, Venkatesh KK. Elevated Blood Pressure in Pregnancy and Long-Term Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Sep 1;144(3):395-402. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005674. Epub 2024 Jul 16. PMID: 39147366; PMCID: PMC11441416.

About Research Roundup

Each quarter, our team of science writers reviews the most current research studies related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and summarizes those studies of greatest interest and potential impact to our community, including research studies related to risk assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Special thanks to our volunteer research team, including Dr. Sig-Linda Jacobson, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, and Amanda Yang, who under the leadership of Dr. Elizabeth Sutton, make Research Roundup possible, and to our Patient Advisory Council, who reviews these materials from the patient perspective.