Postpartum cardio-obstetrics rehabilitation program for women after hypertensive pregnancy: A single-arm proof-of-concept study

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy increase the risk of long-term cardiovascular disease in postpartum women. Exercise-based rehabilitation may help manage blood pressure (BP) and improve physical activity levels in this population, but supporting evidence remains limited. This pre-post single-arm proof-of-concept study aimed to assess the feasibility of a 4-week cardio-obstetrics rehabilitation program for women following hypertensive pregnancy. Women 3-6 months postpartum with a history of gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia were recruited. The intervention combined exercise and educational components delivered through in-person, live virtual, and independent sessions. Feasibility was evaluated through recruitment, retention, adherence, acceptability, and safety. Outcomes included BP, six-minute walk distance, body weight and BMI, physical activity levels, health-related quality of life, and depressive symptoms. Six of 20 screened participants (30% recruitment) completed the intervention (100% retention). Overall adherence to scheduled sessions was 71%. All participants expressed high satisfaction, and no adverse events were reported. Descriptive analysis indicated improvements across all measured outcomes after the intervention. A cardio-obstetrics rehabilitation program for postpartum women after hypertensive pregnancy is feasible. Improvements in cardiovascular, anthropometric, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes suggest potential efficacy and support further investigation.