Systolic hypertension in pregnancy and cardiovascular mortality: a 44-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess role of systolic hypertension during pregnancy in long-term mortality.


METHODS
A total of 4,090 Finnish women who delivered in the period from 1954 to 1963 were followed up for an average of 44 years. Mortality data were obtained from the Finnish cause-of-death registry. Cox-proportional hazard models were used for analysis.


RESULTS
Cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher among women with systolic hypertension in early or late pregnancy. Women with systolic hypertension in early pregnancy without proteinuria had a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular death. Primiparas with systolic hypertension and proteinuria had a higher risk for cardiovascular death.


CONCLUSIONS
By considering women with systolic hypertension in pregnancy as being at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, there may be an opportunity to prevent untimely mortality.
Luoto
Riitta
R
Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Kharazmi
Elham
E
Whitley
Elise
E
Raitanen
Jani
J
Gissler
Mika
M
Hemminki
Elina
E
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology; D011507:Proteinuria; D012307:Risk Factors; D013599:Systole