New Research Found That Babies Born To Mothers Who Experienced Preeclampsia Are At An Increased Risk For Heart Disease And Stroke Later In Life
In the United States, preeclampsia occurs in approximately every one in twenty-five pregnancies, according to the CDC.
The pregnancy complication involves elevated blood pressure and increased levels of urine proteins that can lead to kidney damage and potentially other organ damage among pregnant women.
Preeclampsia typically happens in the later stages of pregnancy but can sometimes occur earlier on. And the condition has already been tied to hindering fetal growth if not promptly and properly addressed since it can cause issues in blood transport to the placenta.
But, a new collaborative study conducted by various institutions in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, has also found that babies born to mothers who experienced preeclampsia may suffer an increased risk of health problems later in life.
The researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing the medical records of eight and a half million babies born during the 1970s and the 1980s.
They paid close attention to the prevalence of stroke or ischemic heart disease (IHD) forty years after each baby was born.
Then, the team ultimately found that babies born to mothers who experienced preeclampsia were at an increased risk of suffering stroke and developing IHD.
In fact, these babies were thirty-three percent more likely to develop IHD and thirty-four percent more likely to suffer a stroke.
However, the researchers did note that the risk relationship was significantly higher among mothers who developed preeclampsia later on in their pregnancies as opposed to mothers who developed the condition early.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Still, because of the study’s large sample size, the researchers are confident that these findings are representative of widespread trends. This study is also the first research effort to discover a relationship between preeclampsia-born babies and an elevated risk of stroke or heart disease in adulthood.
Now, the team hopes that future research could lead to more stringent screening efforts.
“If these findings are confirmed by future studies, screening for risk factors among offspring born to individuals with preeclampsia and primary preventive measures may be implemented early in life to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVDs),” the study concluded.
To read the researchers’ complete findings, which have since been published in JAMA Network Open, you can visit the link here.
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Science
Read This Next
