Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Mercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Open Heart. 2023 Mar;10(1). doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2022-002230.
The lifelong risks of cardiovascular disease following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are well described. Awareness of these risks and associated health-seeking behaviours among affected individuals remains unclear. We aimed to assess participants' knowledge of their cardiovascular disease risk and relevant health-seeking behaviours following a pregnancy affected by preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.
We undertook a single-site, cross-sectional cohort study. The target population included individuals who birthed at a large tertiary referral centre in Melbourne, Australia, between 2016 and 2020, and were diagnosed with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia. Participants completed a survey assessing pregnancy details, medical comorbidities, knowledge of future risks and health-seeking behaviours post-pregnancy.
1526 individuals met inclusion criteria and 438 (28.6%) completed the survey. Of these, 62.6% (n=237) were unaware of their increased risk of cardiovascular disease following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Participants who reported awareness of their increased risk were more likely to have annual blood pressure monitoring (54.6% vs 38.1%, p<0.01), and at least one assessment of blood cholesterol (p<0.01), blood glucose (p=0.03) and renal function (p=0.01). Participants who were aware were more likely to be taking antihypertensive medication (24.5% vs 6.6%, p<0.01) since pregnancy, compared with those who were unaware. There were no differences between groups in diet, exercise or smoking habits.
Among our study cohort, risk awareness was associated with increased health-seeking behaviours. Participants who were aware of their increased risk of cardiovascular disease were more likely to have regular cardiovascular risk factor assessments. They were also more likely to be taking antihypertensive medication.
妊娠高血压疾病后发生心血管疾病的终身风险已有充分描述。然而，人们对这些风险的认识以及受影响个体的相关求医行为仍不清楚。我们旨在评估参与者在妊娠期间患有子痫前期或妊娠期高血压后对其心血管疾病风险的认识及其相关的求医行为。
我们进行了一项单中心、横断面队列研究。目标人群包括 2016 年至 2020 年期间在澳大利亚墨尔本一家大型三级转诊中心分娩，并被诊断为妊娠期高血压或子痫前期的个体。参与者完成了一项调查，评估了妊娠细节、合并症、对未来风险的认识以及产后的求医行为。
1526 名符合纳入标准的个体中有 438 名（28.6%）完成了调查。其中，62.6%（n=237）不知道妊娠高血压疾病后发生心血管疾病的风险增加。报告知晓自身风险增加的参与者更有可能进行年度血压监测（54.6% vs 38.1%，p<0.01），以及至少一次评估血胆固醇（p<0.01）、血糖（p=0.03）和肾功能（p=0.01）。与未意识到的参与者相比，知晓自身风险的参与者更有可能在妊娠后服用降压药物（24.5% vs 6.6%，p<0.01）。两组在饮食、运动或吸烟习惯方面没有差异。
在我们的研究队列中，风险意识与增加的求医行为相关。意识到自身心血管疾病风险增加的参与者更有可能定期进行心血管危险因素评估。他们也更有可能服用降压药物。
