‘Poor heart health may signal gestational diabetes risk in pregnancy’

By Admin

05 Jul, 2025

Understanding the Connection Between Heart and Maternal Health

A groundbreaking study has revealed a critical link between a woman’s heart health and her risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy. According to research published in JAMA Cardiology, women with poor cardiovascular health before pregnancy are more likely to face complications such as gestational diabetes and coronary artery calcium (CAC) buildup later in life.

What Is Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC)?

CAC refers to calcium deposits in the walls of the coronary arteries the vessels responsible for supplying blood to the heart. The presence of CAC is a strong predictor of future heart disease, making it a crucial metric in assessing long-term cardiovascular risk.

Key Findings of the Study

Conducted by researchers at Northwestern University, the study analyzed data from more than 1,000 women collected between 1985 and 2010. With an average participant age of 28.6 years, the study focused on women who had at least one singleton birth and did not have diabetes before pregnancy. The findings were significant:

• Women with poor pre-pregnancy cardiovascular health were more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
  
  

• These women were also at a greater risk of accumulating CAC in midlife, further elevating their heart disease risk.
  
  

Lead author Natalie Cameron emphasized the need for early intervention:
"We need to optimise cardiovascular health early in the life course," said Cameron, an instructor in the Department of Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine at Northwestern University.

Implications for Women’s Health

Gestational diabetes is not only a pregnancy complication it is also a marker of a woman’s cardiovascular health before conception. This reinforces the importance of routine cardiovascular assessments and lifestyle interventions well before pregnancy occurs.

Healthcare providers are urged to:

• Take a thorough pregnancy history
  
  

• Discuss lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity
  
  

• Screen for cardiovascular risk factors
  
  

• Develop long-term heart health strategies with patients
  
  

"Patients with gestational diabetes and other adverse pregnancy outcomes should follow up with a primary care provider so we can optimise heart health after pregnancy," Cameron added.

The Need for Better Postpartum Care

The researchers also stressed the importance of improving postpartum care. There is a growing need to create a smooth transition from obstetric to primary care providers to support long-term cardiovascular health for women who have experienced complications during pregnancy.

By addressing heart health before, during, and after pregnancy, we can not only reduce gestational diabetes risk but also prevent long-term cardiovascular issues in women.