Making pregnancy safer for women

Having a baby can be stressful – and many women are unaware that giving birth can raise their risk of lifelong heart disease.

A new study by Victoria's Epworth HealthCare aims to reduce that risk by identifying the early symptoms and helping women to take proactive action.

"The aim of this study is to identify women with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and provide them with early education about their individual risk of heart disease and what can be done to minimise it over their lifetime, starting immediately," said Associate Professor Monique Watts, a cardiologist at Epworth Freemasons hospital in Melbourne.

Heart disease is the leading killer of women globally, and affects more than one in three Australian women over their lifetime.

Dr Sze Wey Lee, Chair of Obstetrics at Epworth Freemasons, said pregnant women who have high blood pressure due to preeclampsia or gestational hypertension are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

"Preeclampsia affects between five and seven percent of all pregnancies," Dr Lee said.

"Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure, which can lead to multi-organ dysfunction in pregnancy. Studies have shown women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy have a significantly elevated lifetime risk of developing heart disease, with a fourfold risk of heart failure and twofold risk of stroke and coronary artery disease."

The ENRICH ME study, funded by a grant from the Epworth Medical Foundation, will give women with preeclampsia the opportunity to have their cardiovascular risk assessed three months after their baby is born at Epworth Freemasons, and again at the age of one.

"Hopefully, this education helps at-risk women to make appropriate lifestyle changes, to reduce their risk and improve their long-term cardiovascular health," A/Prof Watts said.

"It is also hoped this will spur on a much-needed conversation about the links between preeclampsia and heart disease so everyone is better educated."

Amelia Thomson was diagnosed with preeclampsia during her pregnancy in 2023, and attended a follow-up appointment with a cardiologist as part of the study.

"I learnt so much. It was an invaluable session to understand more about preeclampsia," said the 33-year-old, who now has a son Hugo with her husband Harry.

"Knowing women with preeclampsia have a risk of heart disease, I will make simple changes to my diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart disease later in life," she added. 

"I'm eating more fish, nuts, chickpeas and lentils. I'm having fun discovering new recipes incorporating these food items along the way."

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