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LE8 Can Improve Future Heart Health in Women With History of Complicated Pregnancy

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on March 23, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, March 22, 2024 -- Among women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), maintaining better cardiovascular health is associated with a significantly lower risk for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study presented at the American Heart Association Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2024 Scientific Sessions, held from March 18 to 21 in Chicago.

Frank Qian, M.D., M.P.H., from the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and colleagues evaluated the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and incident CVD in women with a history of APOs. The analysis included 2,263 participants with a prior diagnosis of an APO (e.g., hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, small for gestational age, or preterm birth) and 107,260 parous participants without a history of APOs, all free from CVD at baseline.

The researchers found that at a mean 13.5 years of follow-up, compared with women in the bottom tertile of the LE8 score, those in the top tertile had a lower incidence of total CVD, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. There was a significant interaction observed between a history of APOs, LE8 score, and incident CVD. Women with a prior APO who maintained a high LE8 score had a similar CVD risk as those without APO with a high LE8 score. However, excess CVD risk was seen for women with intermediate or low LE8 scores.

"We need to encourage health care professionals to integrate Life's Essential 8 into clinical practice to improve heart health in women with and without pregnancy-related disorders," Nieca Goldberg, M.D., an American Heart Association volunteer expert not involved with the study, said in a statement.

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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