Postpartum Hemorrhage and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Later Life: A Population-Based Record Linkage Cohort Study

( BJOG 2024 131:1705–1714. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17896) Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) has been increasing in incidence in recent years and can be attributed to causing ∼25% of annual maternal deaths globally. In high-income countries, death due to PPH is rare, however, as incidence increases it remains a contributor to maternal morbidity. Though immediate consequences of PPH and its associations with adverse outcomes in the short-term are well characterized, few studies have assessed long-term impacts of PPH. Recent evidence, however, has pointed to the possibility that women who experience PPH may be at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other adverse effects. This study aimed to characterize the potential association between PPH and CVD, intending to estimate the incidence and relative risk as well as associations with mode of birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.