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Review
. 2020 Jan/Feb;28(1):14-19.
doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000253.

Pregnancy Complications as a Window to Future Cardiovascular Disease

Maya Dassanayake  1 , Elizabeth Langen  2 , Melinda B Davis  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Pregnancy Complications as a Window to Future Cardiovascular Disease

Maya Dassanayake et al. Cardiol Rev. 2020 Jan/Feb.

Abstract

Pregnancy is a time of significant hemodynamic, metabolic, and hormonal stress that can unmask underlying subclinical cardiovascular abnormalities, and pregnancy-related complications may serve as early warning signs for future risk of cardiovascular disease. The increased recognition of these sex-specific risk factors could identify women who may benefit from more intensive risk factor modification to reduce morbidity and mortality later in life. In this review, we describe several pregnancy-related complications that have been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm delivery, and pregnancy loss. Pregnancy-associated risk factors must be identified to fully assess a woman's future cardiovascular risk and may influence strategies for risk reduction.

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