Fewer than half of U.S. adults start pregnancy with optimal cardiovascular health outcomes, according to a review of more than 14 million birth certificates and maternal health records. The research was supported by NHLBI and published as a research letter in Circulation.
After reviewing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers also found a 3.2% decline between 2016-2019 in the number of adults, ages 20-44, who had favorable cardiovascular health outcomes before pregnancy. Statewide variations also emerged. In the South and Midwest, about 38% of adults had favorable cardiovascular health outcomes before their pregnancy compared to 42.2% of adults in the West and 43.6% of adults in the Northeast.
The authors note that cardiovascular disease risk factors, like having high blood pressure, diabetes, or being overweight, can increase the risk for pregnancy complications and heart disease. They also found factors like education and health insurance status overlapped with regional disparities. They note future research is needed to identify other factors that may contribute to regional differences. They also cited the importance of programs, such as the Early Intervention to Promote Cardiovascular Health of Mothers and Children (ENRICH), created to alleviate health disparities.