Pregnancy complications could indicate heart disease risk: McGill study
Posted August 3, 2026 5:18 pm.
Last Updated August 3, 2026 5:20 pm.
A new study out of McGill University has found that pregnancy complications could identify heart disease risk in women earlier in life.
The study reportedly used data from over 260,000 women in the UK aged 15 to 45 who had given birth, and researchers then developed and validated a prediction model to estimate future heart disease risk. Following this, the women were then monitored for the four years after giving birth.
Several factors were reportedly looked at to help predict risk, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, PCOS, depression, thyroid disorders, oral contraceptive use and social deprivation, and researchers were able to learn that women, particularly younger women often considered low risk, may face a higher risk of heart disease earlier than previously recognized.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, yet existing risk tools were developed in older populations and ignore factors unique to women,” said senior author Robert Platt, Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health and Director of the School of Population and Global Health.
Co-author Kristian Filion, Professor in the Departments of Medicine and of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, added, “Millions of women who give birth each year are never considered candidates for cardiovascular risk assessment simply because of their age.”
It is believed that if the women are put into routine postpartum care, the tool could allow for early monitoring, lifestyle counselling or referral to a specialist, potentially helping prevent a heart attack or stroke later in life.
Researchers are hoping to integrate a practical calculator into electronic health records so higher-risk patients can be identified earlier.
For more on the study, click here.
