Ten-Year Review of the Postpartum Maternal Health Clinic at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Abstract

ObjectivesThe postpartum Maternal Health Clinic (MHC) sees patients who have experienced pregnancy complications identified as pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indicators (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, idiopathic preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth restriction) at 6 months postpartum for CVD risk screening. This project aimed to summarise the past 10 years of the MHC and identify trends in patient characteristics, patient CVD risk assessments, and clinic attendance over time. MethodsPatients included in this study have experienced 1 or more pregnancy-related CVD risk indicator(s) and have delivered between April 2011 and April 2021. MHC patient data and the Better Outcomes Registry Network database were utilised to compare eligible and participating patient data during clinically significant time periods. ResultsThe clinic has seen 1030 patients in the last 10 years and their characteristics have remained largely consistent. However, there has been an increase in the proportion of patients seen because of a hypertensive disorder and an increase in the proportion of patients with obesity, abnormal total cholesterol, and elevated fasting glucose. Additionally, CVD risk scores and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome have remained consistent over the years. Regarding the clinic’s outreach, patient eligibility for the MHC has been increasing while attendance has been decreasing over time. ConclusionsOverall, there remains a need to screen these patients for CVD risk and counsel them on risk reduction. There is also an opportunity to increase patient recruitment to improve attendance and to address the increased need for CVD risk screening and counselling in the community.