Cardiovascular outcomes after preeclampsia or eclampsia complicated by myocardial infarction or stroke

To assess the relationship between preeclampsia or eclampsia and stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), subsequent cardiovascular outcomes, and long-term survival.

Using the Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System in New Jersey (1994-2009), we analyzed cardiovascular outcomes in women with and without preeclampsia or eclampsia and a first MI or stroke but with a hospitalization for a first MI or stroke (analysis 1: MI case group, n=57; MI control group, n=155; stroke case group, n=132; stroke control group, n=379). We also compared these outcomes in women with preeclampsia or eclampsia and a first MI or stroke during pregnancy with women with preeclampsia or eclampsia without MI or stroke during pregnancy (analysis 2: MI case group, n=23; MI control group, n=67; stroke case group, n=90; stroke control group, n=263). A subsequent occurrence of MI, stroke, and cardiovascular death, as well as a combined cardiovascular outcome, was ascertained.

In analysis 1, women with preeclampsia or eclampsia were at significantly lower risk for combined cardiovascular outcome with all deaths (frequency of outcome 16.7%) and with cardiovascular deaths (10.6%) compared with women without preeclampsia or eclampsia after a first stroke (33.8% and 23.5%, respectively). In analysis 2, women with preeclampsia or eclampsia and a first stroke during admission were at significantly higher risk of all death (11.1%) and the combined cardiovascular outcome with all deaths (11.1%) compared with women with preeclampsia or eclampsia without a stroke (1.9% and 2.7%, respectively) during that admission.

Our study indicates that preeclampsia or eclampsia not complicated by MI or stroke during pregnancy may not confer a very high risk for subsequent MI and stroke in up to 16 years of follow-up. Our data suggest that other known risk factors put women at greater risk for stroke than preeclampsia or eclampsia complicated by a stroke.

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