Women with premature births have higher risk of heart disease, says new study

A study led by researchers has found that women who give preterm birth have double the risk of coronary heart disease.

By: Sudhakar Jha | | Published: August 19, 2018 4:05 pm

If you’re pregnant, you should avoid doing certain things like prolonged standing, heavy lifting, climbing or carrying. ©Shutterstock

Researchers from Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University with the University Hospital of North Midlands Trust (UHNM), the University of Arizona, and the University of Leicester, looked at 21 studies and over five million women to come up with the analysis that premature birth of the child doubles the risk of heart diseases in the mother. Also Read - Beware! Smoking daily can put you at risk of fatal stroke

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, said that premature birth (delivery before 37 gestational weeks) affects 10 per cent of all pregnant women and is linked to poor health of premature babies. In addition to that, the study also found that there are long-term implications for the mother’s health as well. It was identified that women who give birth before 37 weeks are 1.4 to 1.6 times more likely to experience cardiovascular disease, stroke, and coronary heart disease than mothers who give birth at full term (39 weeks) These mothers also have double the risk of death caused by coronary heart disease. Also Read - Difference in blood pressure between arms linked to greater early death risk

Lead author, Dr. Pensee Wu, Keele University lecturer and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at the University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust said, “Doctors need to be aware that women who have had premature births are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and should be considering obstetric history during a woman’s cardiovascular risk assessment.” Also Read - UCLA scientists reveal how COVID-19 virus increases stroke risk

“I hope this work will raise awareness amongst hospitals and primary care doctors of the lifestyle advice that they can give women who have had a preterm birth in the past. With funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) we are conducting further research to understand the causes of increased cardiovascular risk in women who have premature births,” added Dr. Wu.

Mamas Mamas, senior author of the study and Professor of Cardiology at Keele University, added, “Obstetricians and cardiologists need to work closer together in treating these patients identified as high risk, with the development of shared treatment pathways that cross medical specialities and target interventions to this high-risk group.”

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : August 19, 2018 4:05 pm

Not just lungs and heart, tobacco can kill your teeth as well

Are over-the-counter medicines giving you depression?

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com

+91 – 22 – 6697 1234

91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

We respect your privacy

Not just lungs and heart, tobacco can kill your teeth as well

Are over-the-counter medicines giving you depression?

About The health Site

Useful Links