Overview

• A study of 10,734 women from Vall d’Hebron found that serious pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia or premature birth, double the risk of cardiovascular events within six to eight years postpartum.
• Specific complications like preeclampsia or premature birth increase the risk fourfold, while multiple complications elevate it up to eightfold compared to women without such issues.
• This is the first Spanish study to track women for over a decade post-pregnancy, addressing a gap in female-specific cardiovascular risk research.
• Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40, but existing prevention models fail to account for gender-specific factors like pregnancy complications.
• A new postnatal monitoring program, developed by Vall d’Hebron and CatSalut, is nearing implementation and aims to improve early detection and intervention for at-risk women.