Pregnancy as a Window to Future Health

Pregnancy can be a window into a woman's long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health. Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction or small-for-gestational age infants, and abruption, have been demonstrated to increase a woman's future morbidity and mortality. Women identified to be at high risk for future cardiometabolic dysfunction based on their APOs should receive regular cardiovascular risk assessments and treatment with their primary care provider and/or cardiologist to optimize long-term health outcomes.