Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic hypertension (CHT) is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the effectiveness of peripartum screening in predicting CHT after HDP. METHODS: In this longitudinal prospective study, women with HDP underwent peripartum transthoracic echocardiography and were evaluated for CHT (blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg or on antihypertensive medication) at least 3 months postpartum. Univariable and multivariable analyses assessed the association between clinical and transthoracic echocardiography data and a postpartum diagnosis of CHT. RESULTS: At a median postpartum follow-up of 124 days (IQR: 103-145 days), 70 (33.2%) of 211 women remained hypertensive. Compared with normotensive women, women with CHT were older (35.5 ± 5.0 years vs 32.9 ± 5.6 years; P = 0.001), were more likely to be Afro-Caribbean (27.1% vs 7.8%; P < 0.0001), had higher body mass index (33.4 ± 5.9 kg/m2 vs 31.2 ± 5.4 kg/m2; P = 0.006), and had higher mean arterial pressure (106.5 ± 8.4 mm Hg vs 103.3 ± 7.0 mm Hg; P = 0.004). Moreover, they showed significantly higher left ventricular mass index (84.0 ± 17.9 g/m2 vs 76.3 ± 14.8 g/m2; P = 0.001), higher relative wall thickness (0.46 ± 0.10 vs 0.40 ± 0.10; P < 0.0001), and lower global longitudinal strain (-15.6% ± 2.7% vs -16.6% ± 2.2%; P = 0.006) than normotensive women. A prediction model combining clinical (maternal age and first trimester mean arterial pressure) and echocardiographic features (left ventricular mass index >75 g/m2, relative wall thickness >0.42, and E/e' ratio >7) showed excellent accuracy in identifying women with persistent hypertension after HDP (area under the curve: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.79-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: This peripartum screening approach might be used to identify women at risk of CHT who would benefit from intensive blood pressure monitoring and pharmacological strategies from the early postpartum period to prevent cardiovascular disease.