Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia
Objective 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 di...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Open Heart |
| Online Access: | https://openheart.bmj.com/content/10/1/e002230.full |
| _version_ | 1827893252599054336 |
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| author | Susan Walker Stephen Tong Anna Middleton William Wei Roxanne Hastie Anthea Lindquist Stephanie Potenza Jessica Atkinson Grace Simpson |
| author_facet | Susan Walker Stephen Tong Anna Middleton William Wei Roxanne Hastie Anthea Lindquist Stephanie Potenza Jessica Atkinson Grace Simpson |
| author_sort | Susan Walker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective 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.Methods 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.Results 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.Conclusion 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:51:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-627f4fdde7514f01851afb4b08f7c0df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2053-3624 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:51:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Heart |
| spelling | doaj.art-627f4fdde7514f01851afb4b08f7c0df2023-07-26T02:35:06ZengBMJ Publishing GroupOpen Heart2053-36242023-02-0110110.1136/openhrt-2022-002230Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsiaSusan Walker0Stephen Tong1Anna Middleton2William Wei3Roxanne Hastie4Anthea Lindquist5Stephanie Potenza6Jessica Atkinson7Grace Simpson8Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaMercy Perinatal, Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, AustraliaObjective 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.Methods 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.Results 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.Conclusion 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.https://openheart.bmj.com/content/10/1/e002230.full |
| spellingShingle | Susan Walker Stephen Tong Anna Middleton William Wei Roxanne Hastie Anthea Lindquist Stephanie Potenza Jessica Atkinson Grace Simpson Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia Open Heart |
| title | Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia |
| title_full | Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia |
| title_fullStr | Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia |
| title_short | Patients’ understanding of long-term cardiovascular risks and associated health-seeking behaviours after pre-eclampsia |
| title_sort | patients understanding of long term cardiovascular risks and associated health seeking behaviours after pre eclampsia |
| url | https://openheart.bmj.com/content/10/1/e002230.full |
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