Adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal health: Action needed for long-term benefit.

Abstract

In recent years, high-quality evidence has been accumulating that pregnancy complications are linked to a range of chronic diseases in later life. Pregnancy is regarded as a metabolic "stress test" which may unmask women's underlying risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) or chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the potential for this information to be used in long-term cardio-renal risk reduction has not been fully realised. Women who have a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, intra-uterine growth restriction, or pregnancy loss are at higher risk of CVD, cerebrovascular disease, and premature mortality relative to those whose pregnancies were uncomplicated.