
Simon Timpka
Research team manager

Pregnancy Complication History in 10-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction: a Review of Recent Evidence
Author
Summary, in English
Purpose of Review
Women with prevalent pregnancy complications (including preterm birth and preeclampsia) have twice the risk of later cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to unaffected women. Current prevention guidelines recommend that reproductive history should be part of a woman’s CVD risk assessment. This review synthesizes recent findings on the value of history of pregnancy complications in 10-year CVD risk prediction.
Recent Findings
The associations between several pregnancy complications and CVD are still evident when conventional predictors are considered in middle age. However, comprehensive evaluation suggests that these associations translate into only minor, if any, clinically relevant improvements in prediction.
Summary
Current evidence suggests that 10-year CVD risk prediction in women is not substantially improved by history of pregnancy complications. Future studies should identify subgroups to target with prevention efforts post-pregnancy. In the meantime, conventional models are appropriate for estimating 10-year CVD risk in women with a history of pregnancy complications.
Women with prevalent pregnancy complications (including preterm birth and preeclampsia) have twice the risk of later cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to unaffected women. Current prevention guidelines recommend that reproductive history should be part of a woman’s CVD risk assessment. This review synthesizes recent findings on the value of history of pregnancy complications in 10-year CVD risk prediction.
Recent Findings
The associations between several pregnancy complications and CVD are still evident when conventional predictors are considered in middle age. However, comprehensive evaluation suggests that these associations translate into only minor, if any, clinically relevant improvements in prediction.
Summary
Current evidence suggests that 10-year CVD risk prediction in women is not substantially improved by history of pregnancy complications. Future studies should identify subgroups to target with prevention efforts post-pregnancy. In the meantime, conventional models are appropriate for estimating 10-year CVD risk in women with a history of pregnancy complications.
Department/s
- Perinatal and cardiovascular epidemiology
- EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden
- EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology
Publishing year
2019-07-16
Language
English
Pages
321-328
Publication/Series
Current Epidemiology Reports
Volume
6
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer Nature
Topic
- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
- Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Status
Published
Research group
- Perinatal and cardiovascular epidemiology
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 2196-2995