Heart risk linked to pregnancy disorder

New research has shown that women who suffered pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are four times more likely to have heart failure in later life.

Research led by Keele University, Staffordshire, also found expectant mothers with preeclampsia, which presents with high blood pressure and protein in the woman’s urine, have a two-fold increase risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and death due to cardiovascular disease in later life.

Pre-eclampsia affects five to8percentofpregnancies and is the most common cause of severe ill-health during pregnancy which can, in extreme circumstances, lead to death of the mother or baby.

The findings of the research team involved the analysis of 22 studies and more than 6.5 million women.