Cardiometabolic Health in Pregnancy: Prevention, Management, and Long-Term Implications

Area of Science:

• Reproductive health
• Cardiovascular science
• Public health

Background:

• Cardiometabolic health is vital for pregnancy outcomes and long-term cardiovascular risk.
• Pregnancy acts as a stress test, highlighting risks like hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and hyperglycemia.
• These risk factors are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes and lifelong cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a clinically actionable framework for optimizing cardiometabolic health across the reproductive lifespan.
• To highlight evidence-based strategies for modifying cardiometabolic risk factors.
• To emphasize multidisciplinary, life-course approaches and integrated care models.

Main Methods:

• This is a review article, synthesizing existing evidence.
• It focuses on risk factor modification strategies: blood pressure, glycemic, lipid management, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and substance cessation.
• It addresses physiological adaptations, therapeutic limitations, and care fragmentation.

Main Results:

• Cardiometabolic risk factors significantly impact pregnancy outcomes and future cardiovascular health.
• Evidence-based strategies exist for managing these risk factors.
• Addressing care fragmentation and adopting life-course approaches are key.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing cardiometabolic health before, during, and after pregnancy is essential for maternal and offspring well-being.
• A multidisciplinary, integrated approach across preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care is necessary.
• Improving cardiometabolic health during the reproductive years reduces lifelong cardiovascular risk.