Key result
Adverse pregnancy outcomes and hypertensive disorders linked to future cardiovascular disease.
Why the study?
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of maternal mortality and long-term morbidity worldwide, yet pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications are often under-recognised and variably managed.
This review highlights pregnancy as a critical window for assessing and managing lifelong cardiovascular risk in women, emphasizing the need for integrated, multidisciplinary care.
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“We have an opportunity to change the trajectory of women's health. The cardiovascular changes that occur during pregnancy can reveal heart disease that was previously unrecognized, while complications such as hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm birth can signal increased cardiovascular risk later in life. Pregnancy is a unique window into a woman's cardiovascular health, and by identifying risk earlier we can intervene sooner and improve long-term outcomes for women.”
Warrants multidisciplinary cardio-obstetric teams during pregnancy; extends syntheses yet leaves open prospective outcome validation.
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide and a major driver of long-term morbidity. Yet, pregnancy-related cardiovascular complications are often under-recognised and variably managed across global settings. This three-part Series examines the continuum of cardiovascular risk surrounding pregnancy-from preconception through to lifelong surveillance. In the first paper in this Series, we describe the haemodynamic changes of pregnancy and global trends of congenital and acquired heart disease before pregnancy, evaluate established risk-stratification tools, and discuss the importance of multidisciplinary care. We focus on the existing burden of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy and related maternal and fetal complications. The second paper focuses on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy-the most common cardiovascular complication during pregnancy worldwide-detailing the pathophysiology, risk factors, and innovative care-delivery models to bridge gaps in longitudinal management. Finally, the third paper examines the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and future cardiovascular disease, delineating mechanistic pathways, early interventions, and subsequent cardiovascular care. Together, this Series underscores pregnancy as a pivotal window into women's lifelong cardiovascular health and calls for integrated, equitable strategies to prevent avoidable maternal and fetal complications, while substantially lowering the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease across diverse populations.
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Brazile et al. (2026) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease in pregnancy. This Series reviews the continuum of cardiovascular risk surrounding pregnancy, highlighting hypertensive disorders and the link between adverse pregnancy outcomes and future cardiovascular disease.
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