JACC: Advances (Jan 2025)

Cardiovascular Disease Among Women and Birthing Individuals After Delivering a Child With Congenital Heart Disease

  • Stephanie S. Colello, MD,
  • Richard F. Ittenbach, PhD,
  • Brenna Klepczynski, RN, BSN, CCRP,
  • Colleen Mangeot, MS,
  • Nancy Burnham, CRNP, MSN, CCRC,
  • Andrew Messersmith, MD,
  • Yuli Y. Kim, MD,
  • J. William Gaynor, MD,
  • Jennifer Lewey, MD, MPH

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
p. 101434

Abstract

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Background: Individuals have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life if they give birth to a child with congenital heart disease (CHD). The mechanism of this association has not been well documented. Objectives: The authors aimed to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in women and birthing individuals 18 to 23 years after delivery of a child with CHD compared to normative data. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to mothers whose infants with CHD had undergone cardiac surgery in 1998 to 2003 and previously enrolled in a prospective observational study. We compared rates of cardiovascular disease and risk factors to age- and sex-matched parous women and birthing individuals from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: An attempt was made to contact 533 mothers; 222 (42%) completed the survey. The mean age was 52 years, 86% were White, and 69% completed college. Common cardiovascular risk factors were high cholesterol (32%), hypertension (27%), preterm delivery (32%), and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (13%). Overall, 15.3% reported presence of cardiovascular disease as defined by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, valvular disease, or arrhythmia. A higher severity of child’s CHD was significantly associated with self-reported maternal cardiovascular disease (P = 0.03). Compared to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants, rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors were similar. Conclusions: Women and birthing individuals whose children had CHD had similar rates of cardiovascular risk factors and disease at 18 to 23 years after delivery, compared to age- and sex-matched parous controls. Higher severity of child’s CHD was associated with increased risk of maternal cardiovascular disease, an association that should be evaluated in future studies.

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