Key result
Adverse pregnancy outcomes linked to ~19% higher HF exacerbation risk in women with heart failure.
Why the study?
Does a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes increase the risk of heart failure exacerbations and other adverse events in women with heart failure?
Cohort (n=10,122)
Yes
Does a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes increase the risk of heart failure exacerbations and other adverse events in women with heart failure?
Hazard Ratio: 1.19 (95% CI 1.12–1.26)
Absolute Event Rate: 44.6% vs 39.2%
p-value: p=<0.001
In women with heart failure, a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes is associated with a 19% increased risk of heart failure exacerbations over 10 years, highlighting the need for more intensive management in this subgroup.
Introduction: Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are risk factors for future cardiovascular disease, including heart failure (HF). However, the impact of a history of APOs among women diagnosed with HF is unclear. We investigated whether women with HF and a history of APOs, including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction, experienced worse long-term HF-related outcomes than those without APOs. Methods: Using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of women aged 25-80 years with HF (both HFpEF and HFrEF) and a history of pregnancy. Cohort 1 included women with prior APOs (ICD O13-15, O16.1, O254.41, O36.59), and Cohort 2 included women with documented pregnancy but no APOs, all based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) encounter diagnosis. Cohorts were propensity-score matched (PSM) on 27 variables, including demographics and established cardiovascular comorbidities, yielding 5,061 matched pairs. Index event was the date of initial documented HF diagnosis (I50). Baseline characteristics were evaluated over 5 years preceeding the index date. Outcomes were assessed over 10 years following index and included HF exacerbations (I50.23, I50.33, I50.31, I50.21, I50.43, I50.51), ischemic stroke (I63), myocardial infarction (I21), and all-cause mortality. Statistical analyses were performed using Z-statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Results: Cohorts were well matched demographically (mean age 45.7 vs 45.4 years; 47.9% vs 46.9% White; 36.7% vs 37.3% Black) and across all major cardiovascular risk factors after PSM. Women with APOs had significantly higher rates of HF exacerbations (44.6% vs 39.2%, HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12–1.26, p<0.001). No significant differences were observed in ischemic stroke (p=0.284), myocardial infarction (p=0.166), or all-cause mortality (p=0.931). Conclusions: Among women with HF, a history of APOs is associated with more HF exacerbations. These findings highlight APO history as an important marker for identifying women who may benefit from more intensive HF management.
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Thaker et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Heart failure (n=10,122). Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) vs. Documented pregnancy but no APOs was evaluated on Heart failure exacerbations (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12-1.26, p=<0.001). Among women with heart failure, a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes was associated with a higher rate of HF exacerbations over 10 years (44.6% vs 39.2%; HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12-1.26, p<0.001).
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