Recurrence and long-term maternal health risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a population-based study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the recurrence risk of hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies and to explore the associations among hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and maternal cardiovascular risk factor profile and the development of cardiovascular diseases later in life. We used population-based, cross-sectional data from the fourth survey of the Tromsø Study. Preeclampsia in the first pregnancy increased the risk of recurrence in later pregnancies (relative risk, 6.6; 95% confidence interval, 5.5-7.9) compared with a normotensive first pregnancy. Women with a history of preeclampsia or nonproteinuric hypertension had an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile. Hypertension was prevalent in 25% and 28% of the women, respectively. The carotid artery intima-media thickness and total carotid plaque area were significantly larger in women with previous preeclampsia. A strong association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and an increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases was demonstrated by the assessment of risk factors that can be potentially modified.