Preeclampsia Risk in Pregnant Patients With Preexisting Ischemic Heart Disease [ID 2683588

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preeclampsia (PreE) affects 1 in 25 U.S. pregnancies. Recognized risk factors include obesity, chronic hypertension, and diabetes, and PreE may elevate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Despite shared vascular integrity concerns with known risk factors, there is no clear link between preexisting CVD, particularly ischemic heart disease (IHD), and increased risk of PreE during pregnancy. This study investigates whether preexisting IHD heightens risk of PreE in pregnant patients, and if this relationship can be explained by elevated rates of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) national database, containing comprehensive de-identified patient data on U.S. hospital encounters. ICD-10 codes for IHD, chronic hypertension, gestational and preexisting diabetes, obesity, and PreE were used to identify relevant cases among delivery admissions. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, controlling for confounders. RESULTS: The sample included 1,670,527 patients who delivered between 2016 and 2019. Although no differences by race were observed, patients with IHD were significantly older and more likely to qualify for Medicaid. After controlling for age and insurance status, pregnant patients with IHD were nearly three times more likely to develop PreE than those without IHD (OR 2.75 [1.93–3.39]). With adjustment for possible mediators including chronic hypertension, preexisting and gestational diabetes, and obesity, IHD was still associated with a twofold increased risk of PreE (OR 2.07 [1.44–2.99]). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with preexisting IHD face significantly higher risk of developing PreE, even when considering comorbidities including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. As the incidence of IHD rises, understanding the potential interactions between these conditions becomes crucial. Further research is needed to clarify connections between IHD and PreE, especially in identifying IHD and its risk factors to improve PreE prophylaxis and management.