Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Department of Obstetrics, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Nov 11;22(1):832. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05179-9.
Preeclampsia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, but studies suggest that women with previous preeclampsia are not aware of this. Little is known about how these women perceive the condition and the associated long-term risks. We examined the experiences and perceptions of preeclampsia and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life among Danish women with previous preeclampsia and their attitudes towards CVD risk screening.
Ten individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with women with previous preeclampsia. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
We identified six themes: 1) Experiences and perceptions of being diagnosed with preeclampsia, 2) Awareness about increased risk of CVD later in life, 3) Knowledge as a precondition for action, 4) The perception of CVD risk as being modifiable, 5) Motivators for and barriers to a healthy lifestyle, and 6) Screening for CVD. Awareness of the severity of preeclampsia was limited prior to being diagnosed. Particularly among those with few or no symptoms, preeclampsia was perceived as a non-severe condition, which was further reinforced by the experience of having received very little information. Nonetheless, some women were shocked by the diagnosis and feared for the health of the offspring. Many women also experienced physical and psychological consequences of preeclampsia. Awareness of the increased risk of later CVD was lacking; yet, when informed, the women considered this to be essential knowledge to be able to act accordingly. The risk of future CVD was perceived to be partly modifiable with a healthy lifestyle, and the women expressed a need for counselling on appropriate lifestyle changes to reduce CVD risk. Other factors were also mentioned as imperative for lifestyle changes, including social support. The women were generally positive towards potential future screening for CVD because it could provide them with information about their health condition.
After preeclampsia, women experienced a lack of knowledge on preeclampsia and the increased risk of CVD later in life. Improved information and follow-up after preeclampsia, including guidance on CVD risk reduction and support from health professionals and family, are warranted.
子痫前期与日后发生心血管疾病的风险增加有关，但研究表明，有过子痫前期的女性并未意识到这一点。目前对于这些女性如何看待这种情况以及相关的长期风险知之甚少。我们研究了丹麦既往子痫前期女性的经历和看法，以及她们对心血管疾病风险筛查的态度，以及子痫前期与日后发生心血管疾病（CVD）的风险增加之间的关系。
对 10 名既往患有子痫前期的女性进行了 10 次单独的半结构化访谈。使用主题分析方法对数据进行分析。
我们确定了六个主题：1）被诊断为子痫前期的经历和看法，2）对日后发生 CVD 风险增加的认识，3）知识是采取行动的前提，4）认为 CVD 风险是可改变的，5）促进和阻碍健康生活方式的因素，以及 6）CVD 筛查。在被诊断之前，对子痫前期严重程度的认识有限。特别是那些症状较少或没有症状的患者，认为子痫前期是一种不严重的疾病，这一观点进一步被接受的信息量很少所强化。尽管如此，一些女性对诊断结果感到震惊，并担心后代的健康。许多女性还经历了子痫前期的身体和心理后果。对日后发生 CVD 的风险缺乏认识；然而，一旦被告知，女性认为这是采取相应行动的必要知识。未来 CVD 的风险部分可以通过健康的生活方式来改变，女性表示需要咨询适当的生活方式改变以降低 CVD 风险。还提到了其他一些因素，对生活方式的改变也至关重要，包括社会支持。女性普遍对未来 CVD 的潜在筛查持积极态度，因为这可以为她们提供有关健康状况的信息。
子痫前期后，女性对子痫前期及其日后发生 CVD 的风险增加缺乏了解。需要改善子痫前期后的信息和随访，包括 CVD 风险降低的指导以及卫生专业人员和家庭的支持。
