Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Are Associated with Future Cardiovascular Risk

Investigators have previously found an association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and future cardiovascular risk. To confirm an association between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in postmenopausal women and a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes, the authors performed the current study. They analyzed data from the Women's Health Initiative longitudinal cohort study, which included a survey eliciting participants' history of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, low birth weight (<2.49 kg), high birth weight (>4.08 kg), and preterm delivery (≥3 weeks). The investigators also controlled for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Of the 46,805 women who returned the survey (median age, 60; 5% Black an…