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HYPERTENSION DURING PREGNANCY COULD LEAD TO CVD

Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA, have claimed that mums-to-be who develop hypertension - also known as high blood pressure - while pregnant are more likely to develop heart and kidney problems later in life.

"Along with menopause and hormone use, hypertensive pregnancy diseases may contribute to gender-specific differences in the clinical course and outcomes of cardiovascular disease (CVD)," said Dr Vesna Garovic, who led the research.

The study was conducted for the Lung and Blood Institute Family Blood Pressure Programme and assessed 643 women had problems with high blood pressure during a previous pregnancy.

These women were twice as likely to have a stroke after they turned 40-years-old and were one and half times more likely to develop coronary heart disease.

Dr Garovic commented that "improved screening, prevention and treatment strategies may not only optimise management of problems related to high blood pressure during pregnancy, but also have a long-term impact on women's cardiovascular events and outcomes years after the affected pregnancies".

Doctors should be encouraged to screen for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy concludes Dr Garovic. "We suggest that women with hypertensive pregnancies be monitored closely for asymptomatic cardiovascular events and treated aggressively for modifiable risk factors."