Key result
Hypertensive pregnancy history links to improved postpartum lifestyle habits despite worsened perceived barriers.
Why the study?
Postpartum lifestyle interventions may mitigate increased cardiovascular disease risks following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, but longitudinal changes in lifestyle behaviors and perceptions are not well characterized.
How do self-reported lifestyle behaviors and perceptions of healthy living change longitudinally up to 4 years following a hypertensive pregnancy?
Cohort (n=180)
Yes
How do self-reported lifestyle behaviors and perceptions of healthy living change longitudinally up to 4 years following a hypertensive pregnancy?
Despite self-reported improvements in diet and physical activity over 3-4 years following a hypertensive pregnancy, women experienced worsening motivation, increased barriers, and lower satisfaction with their lifestyle and body appearance.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Barriers and declining satisfaction may undermine lifestyle gains after hypertensive pregnancy; extends longitudinal data to guide sustained support.
Background/Objectives: Postpartum lifestyle interventions may mitigate increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in post-HDP lifestyle behaviors and women’s perceptions towards healthy living. Methods: This study was a longitudinal sub-study of the 3-armed, multicenter Blood Pressure Postpartum (BP2) randomized controlled trial in post-HDP women, comprising different postpartum care/lifestyle intervention strategies 6–12 months postpartum and post-intervention observational follow-up to 3–4 years postpartum. The NSW Health Population Survey captured lifestyle variables 6–12 months postpartum. At 3–4 years post-HDP, the Australian Eating Survey and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were alternatively used for diet and physical activity, respectively. Linear mixed-effects models analyzed daily consumption of vegetables/fruit, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and perception scores of healthy living for motivators, barriers, and satisfaction. Results: In 180 participants, reported mean (SD) vegetable/fruit daily intake increased (vegetable servings/day: 2.6 (1.3), 6 months vs. 2.7 (1.4), 12 months vs. 4.2 (2.0), 3–4 years, p < 0.001; fruit servings/day: 1.7 (1.0), 6 months vs. 1.7 (1.0), 12 months vs. 2.2 (1.3), 3–4 years, p < 0.001), while accompanied by other unfavorable dietary changes. Reported median [IQR] MVPA increased (minutes/week, 330 [280], 6 months vs. 313 [331], 12 months vs. 515 [690], 3–4 years, p < 0.001). Motivators to engage in healthy behaviors decreased (p < 0.001), perceived barriers increased (p < 0.001), and satisfaction with diet and body appearance worsened over time (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall, women reported higher intake of both health-promoting and less health-promoting foods and higher MVPA; however, different tools were used for lifestyle measurement. Worsening perceptions were observed using the same instrument.
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Chen et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (n=180). Longitudinal postpartum follow-up vs. 6 months postpartum baseline was evaluated on Changes in daily consumption of vegetables/fruit, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and perception scores of healthy living (p=<0.001). From 6 months to 3-4 years postpartum, women with prior hypertensive pregnancy reported increased fruit/vegetable intake and MVPA (p<0.001), but worsened perceptions and barriers to healthy living.
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