title: Gestational hypertension: a neglected cardiovascular disease risk marker.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to examine hypertension and cholesterol screening, knowledge of heart attack symptoms, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among women with a history of gestational hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used weighted 2008 National Health Interview Survey data to examine health indicators and modifiable CVD risk factors and to estimate prevalence and adjusted odds ratios for recommended CVD screening and knowledge of heart attack symptoms by hypertension history among 11,970 adult women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women with gestational hypertension only (n = 301), 93% received the recommended screening for hypertension; 75% received screening for dyslipidemia, and 40% correctly identified 5 of 5 heart attack symptoms. The odds of CVD screenings and knowledge did not differ between women with a history of gestational hypertension and those with no hypertension. However, women with gestational hypertension had higher rates of obesity (43%), CVD (18%), and diabetes mellitus (13%), compared with women without a history of hypertension (21%, 8%, and 3%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A history of gestational hypertension is a neglected CVD risk marker.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bombard
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Valderrama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology