Preeclampsia & Cardiovascular Risk: ESC 2025 Congress
- Women who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy may face an increased risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia nearly a decade sooner than women with uncomplicated pregnancies, according to...
- The study suggests that women with a history of preeclampsia should undergo systematic cardiovascular evaluations starting at age 35 to mitigate potential long-term complications.
- Preeclampsia,characterized by high blood pressure and elevated protein levels in urine,affects 2% to 5% of pregnancies.
Preeclampsia Linked to Earlier Onset of Cardiovascular Risks
Table of Contents
- Preeclampsia Linked to Earlier Onset of Cardiovascular Risks
- Preeclampsia adn Your heart Health: A Q&A Guide
- What is Preeclampsia?
- What are the Long-Term Effects of Preeclampsia?
- What Cardiovascular Risks are Associated with Preeclampsia?
- Does Preeclampsia Lead to Earlier Cardiovascular Problems?
- What did the Queen of Hearts Study Reveal?
- What Specific Data Was Gathered in the Study?
- At What Age Should Women with a History of Preeclampsia Begin Cardiovascular Assessments?
- How Often Should Cardiovascular Assessments Be Repeated?
- Why are Specific Guidelines Lacking?
- What are Expert Recommendations?
- Summary of Key Findings: Preeclampsia and Cardiovascular Risk
- What is the Meaning of Cardiovascular Disease in Women?
Women who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy may face an increased risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, or hypercholesterolemia nearly a decade sooner than women with uncomplicated pregnancies, according to research presented at the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025 Congress in Milan.
The study suggests that women with a history of preeclampsia should undergo systematic cardiovascular evaluations starting at age 35 to mitigate potential long-term complications.
Understanding Preeclampsia and its Long-term Effects
Preeclampsia,characterized by high blood pressure and elevated protein levels in urine,affects 2% to 5% of pregnancies. Beyond immediate risks to both mother and fetus, preeclampsia has been linked to a doubled risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke later in life.
Research presented at the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025, the European Society of Cardiology’s congress on preventive cardiology, indicates that women with a history of preeclampsia accumulate cardiovascular risk factors at a higher rate than those without the condition.
Need for Proactive Cardiovascular Assessments
Emma Janssen, from Maastricht university Medical Center in the Netherlands, and the study’s author, noted a gap in current guidelines. “Despite the known long-term risks associated with preeclampsia, current guidelines lack specific recommendations regarding the necessity, timing, and frequency of systematic cardiovascular assessments, likely due to limited empirical data,” Janssen said.
The Queen of Hearts study aimed to investigate the long-term prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in women with a history of preeclampsia compared to those with normotensive pregnancies. The goal was to inform proactive strategies and early intervention.
Study Details and Findings
The retrospective cohort study, conducted in the Netherlands, included data from women with a history of preeclampsia (0.5-30 years postpartum) and healthy women with uncomplicated, normotensive pregnancies. Postpartum evaluations included medical history, physical examinations, blood pressure monitoring, 24-hour blood and urine analyses, vascular function assessments, electrocardiography, and echocardiography.
The study involved 1,040 women with prior preeclampsia and 518 women with normotensive pregnancies. Results showed substantially higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, both individually and combined, in the preeclampsia group (adjusted risk ratio; 95% confidence: 2.1–3.2).
These risk factors emerged approximately eight years earlier in the preeclampsia group (39 ± 9 years) compared to the normotensive group (47 ± 8 years). furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension increased more rapidly with age in women with a history of preeclampsia. By age 35, the prevalence of hypertension in this group reached the threshold (≥10%) that warrants systematic cardiovascular risk evaluation.
Expert Recommendations
“Cardiovascular risk factors appear almost a decade earlier in women who have had preeclampsia, primarily due to premature and accelerated advancement of hypertension,” janssen stated. “Systematic cardiovascular risk assessment is justified starting at age 35 and should be repeated regularly, at least every five years, to prevent cardiovascular diseases and associated complications.”
dr. Chahinda ghossein-Doha, the principal investigator of the Queen of Hearts study from Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, emphasized the importance of ongoing care. “after preeclampsia is treated, these women are often overlooked and not referred for specialized monitoring,” Ghossein-Doha said. “Given the potential for unexpected accumulation of risk factors, it is crucial for women with a history of preeclampsia to adopt a healthy lifestyle and discuss formal cardiovascular risk evaluation with their doctors.”
Dr. Ghossein-Doha is scheduled to present additional data from the Queen of Hearts study at the same congress.
Cardiovascular Disease in Women
Contrary to popular belief, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among women, accounting for 37% of all female deaths in the European Union.
Preeclampsia adn Your heart Health: A Q&A Guide
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and elevated protein levels in the urine. It affects 2% to 5% of pregnancies. besides immediate risks to both mother and fetus, preeclampsia can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases later in life.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Preeclampsia?
Beyond the immediate risks during pregnancy, preeclampsia has been linked to a doubled risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke later in life. Research presented at the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025 Congress indicates that women with a history of preeclampsia accumulate cardiovascular risk factors at a higher rate.
What Cardiovascular Risks are Associated with Preeclampsia?
Women who have experienced preeclampsia may face an increased risk of developing:
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Diabetes
Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
Does Preeclampsia Lead to Earlier Cardiovascular Problems?
Yes, according to the research, women with a history of preeclampsia may develop these cardiovascular risk factors nearly a decade sooner than women who had uncomplicated pregnancies.
What did the Queen of Hearts Study Reveal?
The Queen of Hearts study, a retrospective cohort study conducted in the Netherlands, compared women with a history of preeclampsia and those with normotensive pregnancies. Key findings include:
Substantially higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia were found in the preeclampsia group.
These risk factors emerged approximately eight years earlier in the preeclampsia group (39 ± 9 years) compared to the normotensive group (47 ± 8 years).
The prevalence of hypertension increased more rapidly with age in women with a history of preeclampsia; by age 35, the prevalence reached a level that warrants systematic cardiovascular risk evaluation.
What Specific Data Was Gathered in the Study?
Postpartum evaluations included:
Medical history
Physical examinations
Blood pressure monitoring
24-hour blood and urine analyses
Vascular function assessments
Electrocardiography
* Echocardiography
At What Age Should Women with a History of Preeclampsia Begin Cardiovascular Assessments?
According to the study findings, women with a history of preeclampsia should undergo systematic cardiovascular evaluations starting at age 35.
How Often Should Cardiovascular Assessments Be Repeated?
Systematic cardiovascular risk assessments should be repeated regularly, at least every five years, to prevent cardiovascular diseases and associated complications.
Why are Specific Guidelines Lacking?
Emma Janssen, the studyS author, noted a gap in current guidelines. She stated that current guidelines lack specific recommendations about the necessity, timing, and frequency of systematic cardiovascular assessments, likely due to limited empirical data.
What are Expert Recommendations?
Experts recommend systematic cardiovascular risk assessment starting at age 35 and repeating it regularly. they also emphasize the importance of ongoing care, healthy lifestyle choices, and discussing formal cardiovascular risk evaluation with doctors.
Summary of Key Findings: Preeclampsia and Cardiovascular Risk
| Feature | Preeclampsia Group | Normotensive Group |
| ———————— | ————————————————— | —————————————————- |
| Hypertension Onset | Approximately 8 years earlier | Later onset |
| Risk Factors | Higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol | Lower rates of hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol |
| Recommended Assessment | Starting at age 35, repeated regularly | Standard assessments based on individual risk factors |
What is the Meaning of Cardiovascular Disease in Women?
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death among women, accounting for 37% of all female deaths in the European Union.