Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease-Related Morbidity and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated that there is a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, effect sizes varied greatly between these studies, and a complete overview of the existing data in the literature is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the association between HDP and the risk of CVD-related morbidity and mortality. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted in several electronic databases from inception to July 2019. Exposure of interest was any type of HDP. Outcomes of interest included any CVD, CVD-related mortality, and hypertension. Results: Sixty-six cohort and 7 case-control studies involving >13 million women were included. The overall combined relative risks (RRs) for women with a history of HDP compared with the reference group were 1.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67–1.94) for any CVD, 1.66 (1.49–1.84) for coronary artery heart disease, 2.87 (2.14–3.85) for heart failure, 1.60 (1.29–2.00) for peripheral vascular disease, 1.72 (1.50–1.97) for stroke, 1.78 (1.58–2.00) for CVD-related mortality, and 3.16 (2.74–3.64) for hypertension. Significant heterogeneity was partially explained by all or part of the variables including type of exposure, follow-up time, geographic region, and sample source. Conclusions: Women with a history of HDP are at an increased risk of future CVD-related morbidity and mortality. Our study highlights the importance of life-long monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors in women with a history of HDP.