Placental syndrome increase women's risk of premature heart disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Women who suffer placental syndrome during pregnancy run at least twice the average risk of developing premature heart disease.
Placental syndrome covers conditions such as pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy. It puts mother and child at risk and, as a new study shows, may have long lasting health effects.

Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada, looked at over one million women among whom 75,000 developed placental syndrome. They were followed up for nine years and the researchers found that placental syndrome doubles the risk of premature heart disease. Those who had pre-existing risk factors such as cigarette smoking were even more likely to go on to develop heart disease.

The researchers say it would be helpful if those women who develop placental syndrome have their blood pressure, weight and waist measurement checked six months after giving birth. This study does not prove that placental syndrome causes heart disease. But those with the classic risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, are more likely to have placental syndrome and need to be made aware of the link with heart disease.

Source
The Lancet 19th November 2005

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