Premium
New‐onset hypertension in pregnancy: a review of the long‐term maternal effects
Author(s) -
Green Amanda,
Loughna Pamela,
Pipkin Fiona Broughton
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the obstetrician and gynaecologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1744-4667
pISSN - 1467-2561
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-4667.2012.00095.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , disease , gestation , intensive care medicine , obstetrics , pediatrics , genetics , biology
Key content Women with a history of new‐onset hypertension in pregnancy have an increased risk of future hypertension and cardiovascular disease; women who deliver preterm (before 34 weeks of gestation) are at even higher risk. In this group of women, cardiovascular disease often occurs at a much earlier age. Follow‐up after pregnancy is vital to ensure that ongoing disease is appropriately investigated and managed. Simple lifestyle changes may help reduce these risks.Learning objectives To have increased awareness of the future risks of hypertensive pregnancy. To be able to quantify the risk of future disease from current evidence in the literature. To be able to counsel women and discuss lifestyle changes.Ethical issues Do we counsel women adequately about the long‐term risk of disease after hypertensive pregnancy? Are we missing opportunities for disease prevention?